One day in September
I was outflanked by Mortality.
The God of Broken Bones
shook my father
and snapped his long frail leg.
He said:
"You will crawl on your belly like a dog."
Then the Crab, Cancer,
reached out one claw
and touched my mother's side.
"There," He said. "Right there."
And Pain laid hands
on both of them
while Death stood watching by.
"Unconditional surrender," He said.
"Yes," I wept
putting my hands over Pain's,
"But please take me instead."
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