Guessing Breaths

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The longest-haired son filmed

his father’s last hour

without pause

then gathered us around the iPhone

to marvel at how a pulsing Adam’s apple

stills.

Doctor’s claim: Pain.

Drowning in his own saliva.

But we, small family,

can only guess his last breaths: a song

hiccupping heavens? Four breaths, five breaths —

gone. We keep to ourselves

this quiet, hand-held footage.