Given snow in the forecast I called on my Midwest skills
topped-off the fuel tank for more weight between the wheels
bought half a ton of plastic-bagged construction sand
to load over the rear axle
and then headed to the hospital to pick up my father
newly-diagnosed he met me at the curb
with a clear sack of meds and a business card
for the oncologist in Raleigh
any number of doctors over the previous three days
came by to discuss his blood and its failings
left alone at night he slept poorly in the narrow bed
Marky he said the nightmares are just awful
he had quit the diminutive decades ago
after he called about my cousin’s suicide
he was bewildered that a college boy
the same age as me
would put himself at the center of such sadness
we drove to his house mute and uninterrupted
the lights on yellow flash the entire route
the load in the truck bed soon iced over
in the months that remained for him
I was again Mark with a son of my own
certain only of the weight taken on chosen or not
how it shifts in the slide and skid down the road