When my first cat died
I cried as if my heart would break
mourning
though they did not find her
until the next day
My small, thin body lay
arms pulled close
trying in vain to hold me together
I can touch the pain as if it were
yesterday
We played
and rode bikes
sneaked upstairs together each night
How lucky I was
that she filled my heart so
completely
one summer very long ago.
The day’s hot breath lingered forcing fireflies out of the grass. Soundlessly they rose – rising blink-ing rising – pausing in the trees, slowly charting their way ever upward. Occasionally we’d catch one in an old jar, while grownups sat in lawn chairs and chatted. Mostly we just ran around small, thin arms o u…
After days (and nights) of constant activity I sink into your chair the bigness of your flannel robe softly folded around me Cat jumps into my lap and we surrender cocooned in the warm leather How long could I feign ignorance of your absence? Hurry home
Doubt seeps innocuously through the fibers of self one drop at a time. Unnoticed Unable to shake the cold clammy trickle, it slowly wears away inner peace faith disappears in a flood ‘till someone reaches out and saves us from ourselves
While there are always tasks to be completed meals to be prepared appointments to be kept It isn’t really the litany of ongoing daily existence that sometimes feels too much Happily, life goes on no matter what never being off duty is the biggest challenge Relief comes only late in the evening one day waning,…
Pieces lay scattered in anger across the breakfast room floor The bowl and pair of candlesticks had been an anniversary gift from my grandfather to my grandmother – for me, only images in photographs and stories In some small way being their conservator enabled me to physically connect with them However – when the candlestick…
In the foggy Seattle dusk it was easy to ignore the silent wending through our maze of legs Neighbors gathered, discussing the somethings – and nothings – of daily life She seeking only warmth nourishment, safety from predators When the inevitable question was carelessly loosed into the night laughter couldn’t disguise the response – No…