Signs From The Elders Poem by Valentin Busuioc

my father was always leaving things unfinished

when he was building a fence
he would beat all nails but one
if he milked the cow
he would leave the calf far more milk than it could eat
if he cried
his tear was smaller than everyone else's

he would not give mother enough kisses
or me
or at least his adored icon
the one with the Angel of Death

he knew from the elders that if you let things like that
you would live longer

so he left everything unfinished

and his life likewise