it's not the death that scares me
but the dying
the slow dragging
careful stomping one foot
in front of the other
stiff body refusing to follow the mind
tired mind hopeful to be free
any time now
any time soon

degrading inabilities
to undress to wash and dress
my floor swept by the other
silently when I don't see
let's both pretend it was clean

degrading inabilities
to cook to eat and wash up
the one who constructed a dishwasher
is a hero of my stiff neck
my sore arms my shaking hands

it's the dying that hurts me
not my friend the death

copyrights Nikki Darman, 23.10.2012