when I am stuck at work
and in the back room the air
conditioner coos like pigeons

ways to remind me of the outdoors
their feathers whirring
in the Caribbean sun back home

in the hospital my father
relearns how to breathe
his lungs floating in fluid

as his heart slowly fails
and the time here passes so slowly
the sun over the parking lot

what can be done
except to rediscover my life
and pray for mercy over his

grab the poetry by the throat
and hold it like God to the scalpel
sliced open just to find

all i have ever said is please
please
please