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"i'm taller," she says
she sits on the toilet
with the top down
a red towel on the top
he washes her inner thighs
with warm water & soap
he washes the outside of
her legs, her feet
he takes her back brace off
washes her full breasts,
her round belly, her shoulders
her back around the large
bandage—he dries her
he puts lotion on the washed
& dried areas
he helps her put a new, clean
blue & white nightgown on
he places the back brace on
the back first, then the front
he pulls the three straps
tightly, secures them
he helps her up
she walks to bed
it's her second day home
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Poet and actor Harry E. Northup has published twelve books of poetry, the latest being Love Poem to MPTF (Cahuenga Press, 2020). He received his B.A. in English from C.S.U.N., where he studied with Ann Stanford. Northup made his living as an actor for 34 years, appearing in 37 films, including Mean Streets (1973), Taxi Driver (1976), and The Silence of the Lambs (1991); he also starred in the acclaimed cult film, Over the Edge. Harry has been a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences since 1976. He lives in the Motion Picture Country Home in Woodland Hills, California, where he produces and hosts a weekly, one-hour poetry show on Zoom called Harry's Poetry Hour (Creative Chaos MPTF). He has done 216 shows, of which 206 have been posted on Harry's Poetry Hour YouTube channel. [Author photo by Alexis Rhone Fancher]
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Oh my, just gorgeous…as having been one of the caregivers for several of our Sisters, I found this so moving…the “simplicity” and everyday -ness gives it a beautiful power and humility …thank you Terence and thank you Harry…
Posted by: Sister Leslie | October 13, 2024 at 10:23 AM
the unadorned ego makes this poem sublime.
Posted by: Grace Cavalieri | October 13, 2024 at 10:39 AM
another one of my favorite poets and poems and posts, thank you harry and terence
Posted by: lally | October 13, 2024 at 11:13 AM
Leslie---thanks for your response.
Posted by: Terence Winch | October 13, 2024 at 11:28 AM
Michael---thanks for the comment. And for introducing me to Harry's work many years ago.
Posted by: Terence Winch | October 13, 2024 at 11:39 AM
This reminds me of caregiving and also desperately fear for myself
Posted by: Clarinda | October 13, 2024 at 01:04 PM
What a sweet and gentle poem! I knew Harry was a poet and have read on his terrific Harry's Poetry Hour, but I had no idea he was an actor too! And of such acclaim!
Posted by: Maureen Owen | October 13, 2024 at 01:18 PM
Every time I read you Harry, I learn again how to speak the truth. Thank you.
Posted by: Holaday Mason | October 13, 2024 at 02:38 PM
Deeply relevant and touching.
Posted by: susan campbell | October 13, 2024 at 02:51 PM
It really hits home.
Posted by: Phyllis Rosenzweig | October 13, 2024 at 02:57 PM
Harry, you give us the true and selfless measure of one of love's offices rendered without adornment and so eloquently. You done good.
Posted by: Beth Ruscio | October 13, 2024 at 04:25 PM
What a beautiful poem, so accurate and clear with its attentiveness and emotionally so completely present. Thank you, Harry, and Terence.
Posted by: jim moore | October 13, 2024 at 04:31 PM
So much tenderness and compassion. Thanks, Harry.
Posted by: Lee Rossi | October 13, 2024 at 05:33 PM
Jim: thanks for your comment.
Posted by: Terence Winch | October 13, 2024 at 05:41 PM
Breathtaking in it's stark, stunning, and revealing simplicity. Wonderful. Thanks Harry and Terence.
Posted by: elizabeth iannaci | October 13, 2024 at 05:55 PM
I love this beautiful and tender poem.
Posted by: Eileen Reich | October 13, 2024 at 07:23 PM
Elizabeth---thanks for your comment.
Posted by: Terence Winch | October 13, 2024 at 08:05 PM
The poem attains a rare intimacy, a tenderness utterly free of sentimentality. It's an objective masterpiece.
Posted by: Kit Robinson | October 17, 2024 at 12:32 PM
Dear Terence, Thank you for sending me the kindest of comments from Kit Robinson. Could you please put the following on the site under comments since I am unable to do it: First of all, thank you, Terence Winch, for choosing my poem to be on this great site for poetry. It's one of the nicest things that has happened to me in the poetry world. I'm thrilled and honored. Thanks, also, to my friend Michael Lally, Thanks to each one of you for your good words on my poem. It's about my late wife Holly Prado. We shared poetry from morning to night.
Posted by: Terence Winch | October 17, 2024 at 05:56 PM