My Father's Irrepressible Illness

by C. Padraic McEnroe

Another week less between my father
and his death.
We have passed this day together and marked
one week each closer to his own.

I reach my hands out to him
As I leave
And he looks at them.
Unsure of what to do
He picks up a paper from
the table
and puts it in my hand.

Unsure of what to do
I open the paper
and read
saying, "Thank you."