Twenty seven years
getting the garden just right,
palm trees, bird table, pergola
all placed to please.
Employs electricians
for the shower, bath, Jacuzzi.
His careful draughtsman's
pencil draws the circuit boards,
notes how to clean the connections,
undo this screw, not that one.
A bit of a tug as at each of his coughs
he winces, eyes shut, hand hovers
for a tissue to spit out his apologies
for sleeping when I sit with him.
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