The deciding moment of yesterday
wasn’t when he allowed himself
a scant minute to honor the death
of an elder who, for him, went
far beyond the designation of elderly
At the precise moment, now,
there wasn’t time to pause, to bow,
to open the shower of his eyes
after all, how would it look all-day
shaking hands, hiding red eyelids?
the elder always said,
“It is my wife who keeps the faith”
now his son stands telling
how in the early 60’s,
Dad entered the restaurant
with his basketball team
indiscreetly saying,
“They all eat or none of us eat.”