The Austere Offices of Love

Forty years together and she did not know him
Told him " get out" called him names not earned
Still, he sought the needed aid and stayed,
Hoping, wondering, praying, loving still.

The children no longer recognized,
The shamans, healers with no magic incantations,
shaking heads and clucking tongues as
The memories faded , slowly at first, then
quickening, but not the end.

To come, worse still
no longer able eat,
to dress, remember her own name
to recognize her sisters, or speak
to her brothers who had loved her joy.

And still he stays, still he loves

Those long years ago,
"for better or for worse" they swore
and meant it... mean it still

Though pain lingers on
suffering knows no end
"I love you," said then
means it still.

©William Davis1/22/99