I look to the past
and I am reminded
of how my father
abused his lungs
for a buck and twenty years.

The only thing he has to show for it
is a small pension, a Seiko watch
and an oxygen tank.

At 84 his mind is keen
but he can't even water the flowers
without losing his breath.

Every year that passes
he says it's going to be his last.
He just sent me his engraved watch
telling me it's a keepsake.

When the dealer has dealt
his last hand, I want to be there,
like it was when I was a kid
and I didn't even know what
'pour me *******' meant.

All he says to me now is
"don't hang your head in shame,
hold your head high
when you come face to face
with your maker".

© 2012


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