My Father Is Dancing With Death

Gabriel A. Levicky MY FATHER IS DANCING WITH DEATH His elephant ears moved. His ash face, straight from a collection of death masks Those behind dust covered windows. And yes. His dentures, click, click run away, Scaring very young nurses. His legs, a pair of prehistoric bird wings Ready to be folded In case there is not enough room when under. His watery eyes see a different future. The one where he was a little boy, chasing dogs In love with weeping willows. His scary razor thin lips, once rich and juicy, gathering Silent questions His mouth, a cave full of Hunting scenes, sacrifice-ready animals. His hands, bloodlessly flipping So fast we can’t see it. The exit sign ahead begged us to leave. My dropped jaws followed. I turned around. My father is dancing with Death. His elephant ears like his clan banner, Wave in this stiff-air room, Creating a draft That changes everything… Humenne, Slovakia March ‘09