Waiting Room Only

Patience wait here
in the arc of oversized chairs
heavily padded and wooden armed
Seated to the left
anxious frail faces lean forward
worry lines
white nails
her head in her hands
his hand on her shoulder
as two stage extras
exit the theatre
Intruding on this scene
a man glances down
flicking through
but not taking in
appointment letters
he reads the reviews
taking his temperature
His wife in heels
black cocktail dress and furs
pounds on the coffee machine
that's just eaten her coins
he rises up from his book
too embarrassed to look
as the nurse calls her name
And I sit in this circus
waiting for you - dad
wondering how did you get to their age?
and how long it would be
before my hand is on your shoulder?
or my fist pounds that coffee machine?
or those extras
walk out that theatre
and talk to me
about you?