Gabriel Levicky Poet Free verse

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

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Connie Marcum Wong October 23, 2012 at 12:28 AM I see a book of your poetry in your future (if you don't already have one), with your kind of talent Gabriel. This poem is truly outstanding!

Joann Grisetti October 22, 2012 at 9:41 PM Such a haunting portrait of a dying man. Very moving and tenderly written.