Please don’t promise me
to never put me in a nursing home
Instead, take me to visit my old home
bring from there my favorite things
But do not kill yourself
cleaning after me, picking up my weight,
cajoling me to take my meds:
I’d rather have your love
and give you mine
than see you stooped and wrung out
I put myself out for your
excited stories and ouchies
and puppy loves
counting it all blessing
now what I most want
most want to give you is
your hand gentle in mine
:- Doug.