GATHERING

Flip off the TV.

Listen:

April’s goodbye.

Look out the window

at all that new green life.

She tells him in English,

then in Spanish,

she won’t give up fighting.

When she leaves the room,

I gather her in my arms,

limb over limb,

run my hand through

her new short hair,

realize that

when I wasn’t looking

she sprouted inches

taller than me.