Saturday, March 7, 2020

Two spirits

I rub his foot with a towel,

after a soak in epsom and hot water

I study the calluses, the toenails, the shape of his feet, 

so identical to my own and I am startled, 

though I know my heritage and this truth and I always have.

He is slightly tense, but I shake his legs gently 

as my hands enclose his calves and massage his feet, 

teasing him to relax.

I have a moment of shocking clarity...

...when Christ looks out of my eyes at

my father,

as I wash his feet.

***

My sister and I take books off the shelves 

as we keep up a running patter of

harassment of each other, 

self-deprecation, and 

joking with our daddy

I play Tetris in the boxes, 

as I carefully fit a fairly small sample of 

my parents' books into them 

for the journey to my home

We both insist our father stay seated 

so that he doesn't do more or do too much, 

as he always does.

We relay the boxes to the car, 

marveling at our 50 plus year old backs 

that are complaining vigorously 

about our efforts

Daddy studies the newly empty shelves, 

plotting their renewal.

I watch my precious father as I wonder if 

the impromptu pedi and 

the moment of spiritual connection 

is reinvigorating him.

Did he feel it too?

***

At home, I consider my shelves, 

and the boxes of books.

My parents' spirits gently

expand into my home, 

like they never have been

(allowed to)

since I was 18.