Lost in the Fall

Photo by Martha Dominguez de Gouveia / Unsplash

Angry fire flashed in his eyes; 
finger pointed accusingly – 
a first between my father and me, 
despite ample opportunities.
No longer the man I knew, 
so much destroyed the moment 
he crashed to the hardwood floor 
after a two-am piss.

Here in his hospital bed, 
he wanted only to take a shit 
on a toilet like a man, 
not in a diaper like a child. 
And I was there, not helping, 
saying, “They’ll be here soon.” 

But language also had been
lost in the fall, 
along with dignity and pride.

Mercifully, nurses rescued me 
from his fury, 
but not from my shame 
at having borne witness to this, 
his one descent into indignation 
in a lifetime of generous kindness, 
moral strength, humility
and paternal pride.
Nor could they prevent this moment 
from becoming part of how 
I remember him, and 
part of how 
I judge myself.

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About the Author
Brian Mosher

Brian Mosher’s work has appeared in Literary Underground, Tidings, Blue Villa, Nixes Mate, eMerge, Books and Pieces, Confetti, Coneflower Cafe, Esoterica, among others. His as yet unpublished short story collection was shortlisted for the Unleash Press 2025 Book Prize. His forthcoming poetry chapbook from Finishing Line Press is slated for January 2026 release. Mosher’s most recent book is a collection of poems and song lyrics from Metaphysical Fox Press titled, “A Muster of Melodious Musings” (2025).

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