celebrate a life

he lost second wife
and i, two mothers;
bonded by love’s genes,
shared grief, shed tears.

dad called me to say,
“our twin towers have
fallen;” nine tremulous
months after 9-1-01.

first night in hospice,
last on earth, she reached
up to hug my brother’s
strong neck…her only son.

i’ve dreamed of mom
standing in the kitchen
smiling; she said to me,
“you’re going to be okay.”

dear mom, we bless,
honor and remember
you again today on your
(missed) 83rd birthday.

we revisit our sorrow
even as you celebrate
joyful life in his presence,
who claimed you as his own!

 

spoiler alert

A quadrille of 44 words for dVerse poetics…

Dad took us to stock car races,
figure 8’s, Indy racetrack tour:
our family waiting at famous light
tower for bus driver to announce,
“Gentlemen, start your engines!”

Mom was relieved my brother
didn’t put spoiler on first car or
choose Nascar driving career.

_______________

inheritance

 

Mother died, age twenty-five

(of flu-asthma complication)

I, barely 16 months & weaned,

bereft.  of primal-love relation.

 

Passed fears of childhood years

(growing up with best-step brother)

when mom’s older sister said to me,

“you remind me of your mother.”

 

“Oh, tell me how, right now” I cried

breath-bated wait for answer

she smiled at me and said, ”I see

it’s plain-obvious in your manner,

 

Voice like hers & when you speak

your hands move just as hers had”

precious-treasure words I heard…

while mirror says I look like dad!

 

 

Kim is hosting inherited “body image” poetics prompt at dVerse Poets

logo-napowrimo

for my brother

 

Yesterday, you and I hiked steep slopes above timberline together.

Yesterday, we scrambled to the mountain’s rocky summit, shouting;

Yesterday, both of us could see for miles into the future’s glorious vista.

Today, we sit on this boulder, gulping for oxygen and squinting at horizon.

Today, trail is precarious scree and semi-obscured by fog of fears, tears

Today, we rub our aching muscles and commiserate with breaking hearts

But tomorrow…tomorrow will dawn brilliant where sorrow will be no more!
 


Linking this poem (revised from an earlier version) with d’Verse Poets today.  I’m hosting “poetics” with a mountain theme and the online pub opens at 3 EST.  Come join us!