are the last words my dad

said to my face.

in hospital gown

oxygen turned on

plastic bracelet on wrist

last photo taken

last memory of my dad

dad died denying he was dying

And that’s a whole other ball game

than the one i am playing.
he wanted to bring his guns to the hospital

now that is another altogether game i am playing

the trap, the Big Trap is death

and dad didn’t trap himself there.

death did this.
I wish we could have discussed this.

His lips were sealed.

His doctor told him

”get your life in order”

i wish the doc said

existential words to dad instead.
The Dad I knew and was close too

would have laughed,

and then got his shit together

—-instead

Dad said he trapped himself

financially

My body face hair turned whiter

listening. Shocked.
Dad didn’t get the message?!

the American economic system

is incredibly death anxious

and is what trapped him up

inside the capitalism smug cage.

It’s a trap within a trap.

Tempting

Tricking

The system is designed to avoid death.

at the expense of others

Dad could have had a good death

I wish we could have discussed this.

©️December 2024 Much Love Deb Poems