The water has been running
It’s hot and humid
It’s hot and humid
Her skin, papery, translucent
Prominent tendons in her hand
blood vessels dark beside them
a glimpse into what happens inside
Prominent tendons in her hand
blood vessels dark beside them
a glimpse into what happens inside
She raises one leg
puts her right foot in the tub
then her left
jerking, struggling to keep her balance
even with my arm around her waist
puts her right foot in the tub
then her left
jerking, struggling to keep her balance
even with my arm around her waist
She whimpers as she washes
every vertebra visible
she groans with the effort to bend, to turn
sitting on the white shower chair
I got from my in-laws
every vertebra visible
she groans with the effort to bend, to turn
sitting on the white shower chair
I got from my in-laws
The water off, I wrap her in a towel
and hug her tight
she dries off, shaking
I dry her hair
gently, squeezing over her scalp
as she used to do for me
and hug her tight
she dries off, shaking
I dry her hair
gently, squeezing over her scalp
as she used to do for me
I comb through her thin hair
still showing black amid the gray
she smiles, grateful
“I feel so much better”
“I never could have done it without you”
still showing black amid the gray
she smiles, grateful
“I feel so much better”
“I never could have done it without you”
I leave to get her dessert
ice cream and a cookie
cool sweetness
to end the day
ice cream and a cookie
cool sweetness
to end the day
I stand in front of the freezer
for one quiet moment
and breathe
for one quiet moment
and breathe
