06.06.06 - 11:38 am

THE LAST
Fingers cracked like glass
stinging fractures in dry tissues,
his hands
welcomed family as we awkwardly filed in.
Heavy his sigh as he sank
into a dark leather chair.
Pained to smile
but he did so warmly.
Seated on the pale sofa
dressed in black
a man said a few short prayers
while our eyes inspected each others shoes.
Uneaten snacks
spread over the top of a table
in a perfectly assembled room,
someone stood to leave.
�Work and kids, you know,�
shifting with discomfort
we all stood and followed.
Swollen eyes behind heavy glasses,
slow tears drained down the deep fissures
on his face.
We wrapped our arms around a hollow,
tired old man and shut the door
to go play as children.