My father will begin again. He has bought
a juicer and a book on integrative health.
Here, with the doctor as witness,
my father swears to his body,
on his body, the all of his life.
This is his new start.
The doctor remains silent—
after all, what can one say to the dead?
A shot of insulin ?
Two pills before bed ?
Or
I’m sorry
as though he forgot
to write the prescription, as though
the insurance was declined:
I’m sorry—
He presses the stethoscope to the stale echo of him.
What can one say?
from ErouFind more by Maya Phillips at the library
Copyright © 2019 Maya Phillips
Used with the permission of The Permissions Company, LLC on behalf of Four Way Books.