charles

full of kind love
till the end
so quietly proud 
of your years of work
of your gloria
and your other gloria
getting ready to join her

always needed words repeated
but you knew what was happening
in your chaise lounge with your little gray max
sleeping 
then reading 
then sleeping
barely eating
waiting 
patiently

you told me 
you didn't want to go
off in the ambulance with those men
why can't i die here you said
i don't think you're quite ready yet i said
i was kind of right, it wasn't that day

and all your sons and daughters came
in time to say goodbye
and you left
from your loving home
like you wanted

here's to you charles 
thanks for the shirts
and for turning me on to martinis