Illness and Uncle Geary

When death knocks the bones of your frame
and you feel your laugh rattling through the cage
that is your skin.

you know that the body is only so much.

and when the body that could have given life to one so close
barely survives a lonely, bitter, harsh winter flurry
of emergency room visits
and iv's
and blood tests
and vomit bags
and spit and snot and piss

i would give anything to go back and give you the healthy part of me, Uncle Geary.

Your life taken so many years ago, by idiot doctors
who couldn't put two and two together.
The recent West Nile Outbreak...
and a severely sick man with an unknown illness causing
HUGE
organ failure
brain swelling
diabetes
and blindness

I'm so angry at those doctors for cutting short your chance to hug your grandchildren.
And for them to hug you.
They were just starting to say, "Ganpa"

And the quiet gentle giant you were
endured so much pain in these past few years
and lost so much weight in the battle
but gained so much dignity and pride
and so much of my respect.

All my love to you, who is in a better place now.
Healthy and robust again.
You will be missed.
I love you, Uncle Geary.
What I wouldn't give to kiss your scruffy beard one last time before I go home.