They say death always comes in threes

old before your time

you knew

long before

your body

began to fail

that you

would walk

with angels

sooner

rather than

later

that you would never

hear the sweet voice

of your grandson

saying, “grandpa,”

your life

foreshortened

by poor decisions.

aging before your time

your body failing

you in ways

unimagined

despite

your efforts

you deteriorate

degenerate

transform,

an old man

though your

years are

few

no “grandpa”

for you,

your life

foreshortened

by genetic coding.

old before your time

aged by grief

loss

despair,

heartbroken

heedless of

the love

with you

still,

you feel

your heart

cracked

shattered

beyond healing,

your life

foreshortened

by your hand.