as it was that day
the sweet sorrow,
tangled memories
my clumsy struggle
to fill the empty boxes,
nonsensical laughter
because what else
could be done there
facing the sober truth
your hand in mine,
the one that once
wiped nightmares away
now waiting the footsteps
the words that hung
across the room such,
barely understandable
yet, even the neighboring
old woman could hear
how the heaviness
melted the sunshine
as she smiled, telling
what good daughters are we,
these things between us
echo again and again
lingering quiet moments
trying to smooth out
the wrinkled sheets
of what remained
those heavy, heavy rocks
the burdens carried
yearning for comfort
that blush of grace
dismiss the fading horizon
the ‘awefull’ knowing
in the silence of day
watching the ocean roar
across the TV screen
while all I could say was,
“it will be okay,
it will be okay.”

those last few days
together wove
captive moments

intersecting

those lucid dreams
your tender hands
knit the story

reflecting

those notes divine
raindrops glisten
span the silence

resounding

those expanding skies
imprint reflection
lingers time

abounding

this fragile glimpse
our tangled heart,
our tangled heart

fading.

-Photography by Klaus Kampert

-For Dan

Working with pain
a vague feeling
a memory left over
something lingering
left behind the anguish
those fragile moments
of mortal fears
exquisite suffering
silenced now since
the pain has ended.

Rest in Peace.

This Just In

How the endless night
hugged your edges
made darker the lines

things that lie between
what was said and
what was meant to be

all alone, there, crumbled
in the corner space
knees held tight, anchoring

sorrow remained in place
while waves of loss
splinter the rock buttress

what held your grace
now downy sand
sifts through such hands

with vacant stares
reflecting yesterday’s stars
those fragile happenings.