i remember the morning my grandfather died
my father phoned at sunrise
the night before...
i went to see him
at the hospital
he was in a coma
when i entered the room
he opened his eyes
it was the first time in days
i moved closer
and he took my hand
told me
that he just wanted to say goodbye
and then he closed his eyes again
i waited for more
but there was nothing
my grandmother was sitting
at the foot of his bed
crying
aunts and uncles were scattered
over chairs
and spilling into the hall
when my father phoned at sunrise
he said he was at the hospital
the doctor had just pronounced my grandfather dead
he said that now the old man could rest in peace
and it was true, the suffering was over
i didn't wake anyone else
there was no point
it could wait till breakfast
i turned on the radio
and watched the sun come over the hill
in the distance
Copyright © michael dennis / South Western Ontario Poetry 1983
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