HEALING
His head bent low
forward
his crown just below
my eyes.
silence in his office.
shiny metal-rubber tubes going to his
ears.
the smooth flat circle of metal
held against my chest just above
my heart
as if in blessing.
rapt silence.
listening.
listening to his son’s
heart
the one who would be left standing
If all went well,
after he was gone.
John N. Phillips