She turns his chin
toward her and lathers his face
with white foamy cream.
Then dips the razor
into a bowl of warm water.
She begins cheekbone
to neckline—a straight path
between white heaps
as though clearing fresh snow.
She instructs him to flatten
his upper lip, then
works in short strokes
from one side to the other
until his skin is clean.
Even though he only sees
his children, the specialists,
and the occasional visitor,
she insists on this routine.
4 pm each day before supper
and then the evening news.
This is something she can do.