DEVOTION

For hours on the watch,

agonising over her agony and helplessness;

his/their, unmitigated distress-cum-empathy;

folks who married and got babies who then married in turn;

who know every trick, artiface

and great grandchildren growing up all over the place;

gotten proper Elders - Senior by then

with all their broken hips, plus necessary wear and traumas:

the final lap, Day-at-Time enough -

muddled, names, a bit of an issue,

bodily processes paramount

and yet some kindof coherence -

will, resistance, tender vestiges extant:

witchy, fragile, serene, angry,

growing transparent, detached,

 with remnant attitude;

recipients of all that backlog love

 and care.