He would have been 65

He was my age, 

He took his life, the rifle ready in the closet

as he rushed in, in the haze of depression and loss.

This photo was tacked to my bulletin board for all

these years, 

Now it is time to take it down, notice the corners

that have been nibbled by the rabbits that

have long since passed on.

I need to move on, too,

the years are passing by.

No, please, no

No

please, no, don't let this fire sweep

through broken hearts, burning fences hastily

erected to keep their hearts contained.

No, don't let those who grieve

(myself included) face more loss,

a house, trying to be a home in spite of his absence,

don't let this fragile house burn down.

we cannot bear it,

let the winds die and grace settle upon us

let us breathe pure air, 

not choke on smoke and fire.

let us breathe,

let us breathe.

she looks a little sad

she looks a little sad, or bored, or both.

wondering if the pay is enough to have the artists

eyeing her from all angles, for holding so still,

for sharing her body in this way

she has time to reflect on all this, on the 

bills which perhaps are late, or her studies

which are awaiting her,

maybe she is relishing every moment,

imagining the admiration of the students.

I have this painting in my room but

I will give it away as I find her expression

sad, her beautiful exposed breasts visible to 

all those who do not care for her.

I have experienced this.

A fork, a knife and a Dad

although it was a minor miracle for Dad

 to dine with a two-year-old,

it was yet more of a miracle to have metal silverware in hand.

the tines of the fork reflecting in the smooth surface of the knife.

Dad's arm around me, more for his comfort than mine,

flowers making a beautiful backdrop for Mom.

I am too busy to read the menu, I am happy

just like this.

Life is beautiful

Life is beautiful.  I know from 

the lilt of his Jamaican accent on the phone.

the kindness of this man, once a boy on the beach

selling trinkets to tourists to earn money for his family,

now launching telescopes deep into space to 

study the earliest days of our universe.

life is beautiful, if only you open to the possibilities,

like these flowers on this spring day.

tomorrow it will snow, covering these blooms,

and then the sun will come again.