Every morning, he rose from his bed
sat at the kitchen table by the window
drank coffee with cream and
listened to local news on the radio
He shoveled snow in winter
mowed the lawn in summer
and walked the dog three times a day
He warmed up the car, took her to the beauty parlor
stopped by the doughnut shop
and picked her up when she was done
He fell asleep in his chair, dog in his lap
newspaper on the floor, TV on
and the clicker on a table by the chair
He got up and ate supper
hoped someone would stop by for a visit
and took his dog for a walk
He fell asleep in his chair his dog in his lap
newspaper on the floor, TV on
and the clicker on a table by the chair
He woke up for the 11 o’clock news and when it was over
he shut off the TV, kissed her on her lips
and said, “Alice, it’s time for bed”
_____
Every morning, she got up after him
put yesterday’s dishes in the dishwasher
asked about the news, made eggs over-easy
buttered his toast and refilled his coffee
She sat at the table, pricked her finger
to test sugar levels, took a handful of pills
puttered around her kitchen and put dirty dishes in the sink
She took a shower, went to the beauty parlor
caught up on all the gossip and on the way home
told him he needs to walk more
She fell asleep in her chair
her reading light on, a stack of Reader’s Digest
and church newsletters by the chair
She got up, sat at the table, pricked her finger
to test sugar levels, took a handful of pills
called the dog for a treat, made supper
sat with him to eat and put dishes in the sink
She fell asleep in her chair
her reading light on, a stack of Reader’s Digest
and church newsletters by the chair
She woke to the beep of her alarm
pricked her finger to test her sugar
and swallowed another handful of pills
She woke him for the 11 o’clock news
and when it was over, kissed him on his lips
and said, “Chet, it’s time for bed”
11-30-19
My husband's poetry 
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