Unbroken
he sits in his wheelchair
waiting
her visit
to ease his world of rubble
to snap shut a sense of aimless
in a nursing home of minimized living
its weariness that closes in like shutters
she bends to greet him
her touch a force that shapes his joy
shedding his decline like shaking off soot
two decades together till a swirling tempest rained sorrow
an accident, gut retching moment
swept aside the bliss of living
one couple, hands held
to unfasten latches of closure
to comfort them, re-imagining what's familiar
a vibrant rootedness
unbroken, he knows the glow from her kiss
crumbling gloom
when he hears her approach
the clack of her heels
like chimes in wind
Poem composed November 14, 2021
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