Chanting across cities

His breath is shallow
noisy,interrupted
the crevices in the skin
deeper than ever

a long lifetime
and the silent
giving up of it all

I can hear
across cities
when it comes to dad

I take down
Tuesdays with Morrie
from the book shelf

“Death ends a life,
not a relationship.”

The distance between
our two cities
is longer than ever

yet I'm right outside
his door
as frozen as the snow
falling quietly
his rosary in my hand
chanting nothing.