at the threshold,
espying his shifting form,
shrivelled, recumbent, unmoving,
until a first stride delivers closeness, a second a smile, then a lurch to discern the glimmer of recognition caught beneath paling eyes,
opening, closing,
in a blink that dashes anticipations, that defies acknowledgement,
a familiarity dissolving,
to question who and what I am
<
espying his shifting form, 
shrivelled, recumbent, unmoving, 
until a first stride delivers closeness, a second a smile, then a lurch to discern the glimmer of recognition caught beneath paling eyes, 
opening, closing, 
in a blink that dashes anticipations, that defies acknowledgement, 
a familiarity dissolving, 
to question who and what I am
