Whe he departed

"When he departed" by Emily West Afanador

There is something that I own
That no one knows about. A secret
I keep -- not because it's bad
or good. I‘ve just kept it
to myself. I have
in my possession
the undershirt
my dad was wearing
when he died. It is cut
down the side and
at the shoulder strap
where the medics got access to his
chest. They tried to revive him.
I can picture it
and I only hope
that my father’s soul
was feeling good. At peace
with leaving.
I have his shirt. The last thing
That he wore
Next to his skin
Closest to his body
When he departed

(see original here on Cowbird)