Life. Brilliant Life.

I'll never forget my sister's green dress,
soft as moss, and softer still
her embrace, made delicate by
tear after tear of letting go - finally

and my long lost cousin, tall as a mountain,
his quiet strength and eyes,
oh the eyes, and when they met mine
we knew, we just knew

and my brother-in-law's speech
full of confidence and bravado, as is
his way, whose voice broke humbly
when he mentioned his daughter, who died
years ago

and the brightly lit luncheon, where
everyone noticed the patchwork quilts
decorating the walls, intricately, carefully
stitched, popping with color and texture
here and there, like the pop of energy, the pop 
of Life, like flowers bursting, or popcorn 
popping, all along the long white table

a quivering chin, a contorted face, a smile
or a laugh, and eyes meeting eyes
with a touch or a glance, and gazes drifting
to unknown places.

Life being Life
made brighter by
my Father's death.


Thank you Dad - for everything.

July 17, 2023