-the poem-writer's last days-

when he's old — not so much

older than now

the age of his old grandfather

his old uncle

the older brother of his old father

when he's old enough

to fear another solid

penetrating the bowel

and water

softly splashed to his face

becomes a nightmare

when he's old and pisses
uncontrollably with the blank

expression of the animals

is spoon-fed unspeakable concoctions

by younger women applying a tepid

attendance

when he's old and barely

conscious of the brittle

bone ready to snap––

squinting at the written instructions 

lost at the face of the mechanism 

lost in the dust of the kids

running by in their lightning attitudes

when he's old — not so much older than now.