Four Dying

"If my Alzheimer's gets any worse,
I'll forget my name," he laughed.

"Yes, that was my wife's name."
"Yes, please change it."
"Just James now, please."

"If you can, please watch Mr. President's address tonight,
It will be very important."
"God bless."
"Merry Christmas."

"You never know when they'll call,
And you'll have to go back."
Her eyes screamed out of the sockets
Say something or I'll die right here-
"Best to just keep moving."
She may have spun once, quickly,
I remember dancing;
No, it was her dresses, cut long and thin,
Twirling on a hanger;
No, it was the sun, streaming through her hair;
No, nothing did anything.
Nor did I.

2

1