MY CHOICE

Each day before rising
still and loose in my sheets
gently floating in my
moment of freedom

I remember the game
where a dark tunnel loomed
and we held our breath
straining to reach
a childish beacon

The intrusion of light
does not change my path
plodding ever forward
falling ever backward
my breath a volcano

But Hiroshima explodes
and the Nile rises
their strained duet
blinding and hot
demanding their revenge

Finally my eyes open
a hand is before me
my morning coffee
the reaper's bone
or the farmer's plow

ILLUMINATED TRUTH

A few days ago Kristy's sister Laurissa came into town and we laid Kristys's ashes in the cemetery.  We decorated the space with flowers from the back yard.  Next to her ceremonial is the plaque we had made with a photo and the words from one of her poems. Laurissa and I were surprised at how cold it was as we sat holding each other.... We spent the next 5 days together, making it a total of seven.  Later Laurissa wrote this beautiful poem:

Written by Laurissa

seven psychic days

of mother and daughter

holding sister

and daughter

close

still

learning

this walk

without her

within

flesh and blood

smile, hands

and eyes

shout of the limb

torn away

and then

there is

beyond

don't know if I will ever

have daughters to gather

to my body

but my sister is gone

I will be alone

that is the dark fear

but never alone

illuminates truth

I tend to my plants all my days

though it is not I or me

nor mine

whisper the soft green breezes:

be gentle with your love