Thursday, April 1, 2021

Poem: "The Feet" by John Predmore, S.J.

The warm water and soft towel, 
Gentle hands and understanding eyes. 
A soothing movement as he binds himself to his friends. 
But he comes to me. I recoil. You can skip me. 
            I cannot. 
But I’m not ready. 
            I need more time. 
This is the time. Reluctant attention, as I’m the one to wash. 
           You have to let me. 

The nearness of his breath. I smell it. It is warm. Frightened intimacy. 
More breath. 
Just breath. 

I don’t know what just happened. 
I take his hands and help him up, and he just looks at me. 
We are breathless. 

Overwhelmed, I say, “There are too many feet.” 
He is silent. 
I wait. 
I learn. 
I know. 

“There are not enough feet.”

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