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The mightiest man I ever did know.

The finest father, you helped me to grow.

The hospital bed: clinical, crisp, pressed.

Your resting place. My heart restless. A mess.

The chair by your side, where I held your hand.

My place of regret at the separateness of man.

The asthmatic opposite, gasping for air.

An obvious reflection: my feelings laid bare.

Your young granddaughter: quiet, suspicious.

You appeared strange, cachectic, unfamiliar.

The tears streaming, rarely seen on your face.

Never again to see her once she left that place.

The clinical judgement, a crushing blow.

Clinging to hope, but soon time to let go.

Our conversations in those awful last days.

Overdue exchanges of gratitude, feelings, praise.

The early morning call, you were breathing your last.

The drive to the hospital. We arrived. You'd passed.

That peacock in your garden was no hallucination.

Turns out it was your herald of heavenly ascension.