The hospital hallways so clinically white
The fluorescent lights bright
So in contrast to the darkness of that room
with blip bleeping and suction sounds
where life is monitored on a screen
I looked down at his yellowed skin
and jaundiced staring eyes
and I could not believe that this man
lay in the place my father had been.
Where was the light in his bright eyes,
the lop-sided mischievous grin?
I thought about his rich, resonant voice,
finally uttering the words I longed to hear,
'Chanti, I love you and I'm proud of you.'
He never said those words to me
and yet I loved him, was gripped with fear
that he would leave so soon.
I'd only known him for a year.

I miss you Dad

© Chanti 2004