what meant most to him

near the end 

of his life,

my father gave

me

the shovel he used

on a farm

in Nova Scotia,

circ1933.

the rake,

the trowel.

he gave me the leather

reins

that he used

for his horse. the bucket

that he

carried seed in,

or to milk

the cow.

i told him thank you.

thank you.

but didn't tell him

that it felt

too late now.