Slice of Heaven in Time and Place

 

He sits at peace in his recliner

today. His hip pain is minimized

when he sits a certain way.

Pup is snuggled on his lap. He

sips his first cup of coffee and

lights his first cigarette of the

day.

This has been his routine for

the two years he has been

confined to his place.

Early Sunday morning, 5 AM.

No obnoxious noise from

apartment neighbors upstairs

or next door, only the soothing

music of Beethoven he has

chosen to play.

He is aware of the raging chaos

spread worldwide. And he is

grateful for his disabled condition

in a selfishly strange sort of way.

He is aware his days on Earth are

numbered. In nearly 75-years of

life, he has done what he needed

and wanted to do. He is satisfied

with this slice of heaven in time

and place.

His needs are simple—food enough

in the kitchen, money enough in the

bank to maintain. All the prayers

have been said, and nothing will

change the way of the world outside

or within.

He takes another sip of coffee,

lights another smoke, strokes

the back of his pup, and music

to his ears—the richness of

Beethoven shall play forever.

           -30-

Chris Hanch 10-17-2021