love in the time of cancer

for my grandpa
love sat in the middle of
a pickup seat
on the way to California
to see the tallest trees the good Lord
saw fit to make in the USA

love floating a little farther
down a Wyoming highway
down that empty stretch of road

that empty stretch of road
grandkids college-bound
and forgetful

the thoughts of phoning
didn't put me through to Texas
love i'll really call tomorrow
love come next summer

love-fickle tumbleweed
love-hunckered cactus

love an old thing waiting out the year
and the year

love in the time of cancer
love petaled prickly pear
love agave bloom red and
love cells lost on wrong paths
with no way to go back.