Excerpt from “End of Life Love”

Do they need to know

That I rubbed your body with lotion 

Made you an endless number of bowls

Of hot wheat with tons of butter and sugar

That you rubbed my feet

And held me whenever your shoulder

Was not hurting 

Too much

That we stayed up until 2:00

That you read your work to me 

And I fell asleep to the sound of 

Your words

Your voice 

That you brought me flowers thrice 

And built my daughter a bed

That you fought constantly with my cat

But let him stay 

That you cooked

And cleaned

Trying to be a good husband 

And that you loved me 

As much as you could 

As much as your body allowed 

I look at myself naked in the bathroom mirror 

I remember taking pictures of you in the shower 

I remember you coming inside 

When I was taking a shower 

Staring at me for a while 

And then calling me upstairs 

For a cuddle 

A cuddle was all I asked for when I met you 

And you gave me everything 

And then died