there's eternity and then there's now

the minister

is worried about

my father's after life,

his salvation,

where he'll spend eternity

when he dies.

Has he given his life

to Christ?

meanwhile

i'm trying

to get him to the doctor

for medicine,

to the dentist,

then to the barber

for a haircut. but first

i have get his shoes on,

tie his laces.

help him into the car

then drive him

to the store to buy him

something

he might like.

something that he can

chew

and swallow.

skim milk,  he says.

pointing at the array

of jugs behind the cold

glass doors.

we get home, then

i get a ladder out,

to change the light bulb,

gone dark in his

hallway.

he needs the light.

we all do.