On the Wall
At the edge of rocky beach,
he rested his head on my shoulder
and we stared across the water.
His words were ones I knew
but the combination unfamiliar -
echoes of made for TV movies.
They came back to me :
my sick day afternoons
sunk into the couch staring
except he didn't look as pale
or heroic as the leading man -
it was only a cough.
I repeated that phrase
his mantra become mine
as he held my hand
to repeat the telephone call
from the clinic in even tones.
He mentioned his favorite flowers
And the party we'd plan
to laugh over his foibles
after he was gone.
I promised I wouldn't cry
and he said nothing
as he squeezed my hand.
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