[33]
A “Years before,
years after” break.
Peleliu inport San Diego:
the note on my rack,
the torture of being told
of Dad’s hospitalization
by someone I loathed.
In shock I flew to Honolulu.
[63]
Dad’d been coughing
up blood flecks for years.
He cared for Charlotte
until he couldn’t, called her sons
to retrieve her, bade her Aloha,
checked himself into Hilo Hospital.
Dad was airlifted to O‛ahu,
didn’t regain full consciousness.
He was only 67.
I’m 52 and now a writer — like him.
I’m still unable to return him
to his beloved land and trees.
~*~
Andrew Shattuck McBride
NaPoWriMo ~ 2013 | My Day 12
April 15, 2013
Andrew Shattuck McBride, Writer's Blog 