I Told Her

I told her she looked beautiful, ageless....

I told her we'd both be hitting forty soon....

She lurched, gasped, guffawed

     and

I told her not to laugh, she'd hit the mark first....

Again she shifted, buckled

     in hysterics

until it was necessary

     for her bedding

     to get rearranged properly

     with the help of the night duty

          nurse....

I told her it wouldn't take

     another six months before I

     visit again....

                             Oakland, 1995

--;RHOADE