it's coming

the parents are old.
dying
actually.

the house is dark.
they can't reach to change
the hall bulb.

grumpy with their ills.
limping from bed
to bath,
from table to chair.

half in the old books.
half in
the show. did we already
see this?

forgetful of the day,
the hour.
the oven. the oatmeal
gone cold.

we'll get there too
some day.
sooner
or later. you can't
stop what's coming.

someone will bring us
the paper.
the mail,
pick up our
laundry
and groceries.
on sunday we'll get a call
and talk
about the small
remainders
of life.