slipping away

he leans on a cane,
on a shoulder,
a wall, he braces himself
to climb a curb,
grabbing the rail
to be helped up
a flight of stairs.
he goes in for more juice
to be shot
into his arms.
more x-rays, more
prodding and poking
of his brain.
someone hands him
a drink. looks into
his sleepy eyes. there is little
anyone can do or say
as he slips away
from this world
and dies.