My Father is Dying ...

I am here. Watching his life end ...

ravaged by cancer attacking his bowel.

His intenstines have conceded, lost their control

while I sit here telling you of that you cannot see,

but I do, and am, right now.

"Call the nurses Alan ...


please please do no more, but

"I'll clean you up myself" ...

have we not done it many times before?


I understand son but the nurses ...


are faster and abler than thee, but I tell you Father,


I've nothing, nothing to do this night, but live with you, your last story


with as little possible fright.


So friends ... pray for my father,


together, we sit, he and I, in times


such as this, I can do nothing but ... tell you over


and cry.





Alan D. Busch

tonight from Prentice Hospital, Chicago, Il

7/8/08