Beyond the End Bell

Strange that the refrigerator doors would be padlocked.

Mother’s paranoia worsening, dementia’s grabbing grip,

Dad’s palsy clearly confining, curtailing a kind, quality of life.

Tried, married an entire life; this the crush of age and circumstance,

Now resolved to keep them from taking him away.

Determined, downright determined to save him from this, his sentence,

A new two man lift, ordered online, one frail and aged woman to use.

Tired - a barrage of cackling criticizers; problem solvers in their own estimation,

Gruiform sentinels guarding, waiting for a fish, a flash of misstep.

You think they’d really fly in and take him away?

Resolved to serve him in her own way - just let her be.

Below this dull reality that no longer tantalizes,

Under this bleary bondage, beauty is buried.

You’d fight the same way for yours; yes, way beyond the end bell too.

Gary Edward Geraci