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so Im staying in the house with dad now
and I remember, because the bed
so its a rule at this house,
so its my second day here with dad alone
even if mom isnt around to tell me anymore
and I remembered this morning
but as they got older, dad had trouble
so, when dad was walking though the house today
and he walked into his bedroom with me,
so we lifted both fitted sheet corners
then dad said,
and he walked out of his bedroom
and
and I know he cant be alone
excuse me,
U.S. Government Copyright © 2004
Making the Bed
Janet Kuypers, 09/08/06 #2
for maybe two weeks, to make sure hes okay
to make sure hes not alone
the first eighteen days
after mom died
in the kids room,
when the door was open,
faced the entranceway to their house
so anyone coming over
would see if our bed was made or not
make you bed before you leave your room
every morning
you know, so the house doesnt look so messy
and I make my bed, and Im sure
he doesnt really care, but
its something you really should do here
that mom would always make their bed
after dad left in the morning
she had a system down
for making their king sized bed
sleeping on his back all night
so at a local rummage sale, mom bought
one of those twin-sized hospital beds
where you can control the inclination
of your back for a restful nights sleep
you know, so dad could sleep
sitting up a bit more, and mom
could still rest on the twin-sized bed
right next to him
I asked him,
I know mom usually does this,
but would you want your bed made?
showed how he has an egg carton mattress
under his sheets on his hospital bed,
and said that the fitted sheets often pull
out from the top of the bed, you know,
probably because the bed is always inclined
when he sleeps
on his bed
and pulled the egg carton pad up
as high as we could
then put the sheet back on
you dont have to do much more,
if you want to pull the sheets and blankets up,
thats your call
and I started to pull the sheets up
on his side of the bed,
noticed that they tugged on moms twin bed
at his bed side
then I pulled the blanket up
and had to walk around
to moms side of the bed
the left side, the same way
I sleep with my husband
to pull the blankets up evenly,
to fix her two pillows
resting on her side of the bed
and I know hed never want to
remove moms twin bed,
or even remove moms pillows
from her side of the bed
but
but its just hard
to see so many reminders of moms existence
in places you wouldnt expect to look
I have to dry my tears now
Copyright © 2006 Janet Kuypers.
Chicago Poet Janet Kuypers
on all art and all writings on this site completed
before 6/6/04. All rights reserved. No material
may be reprinted without express permission.
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