I was afraid of my father,
Though he never gave me
Any reason to be afraid.
I respected my father for the
Many sacrifices that he made.
I disobeyed my father and his
Love for me never swayed.
I buried my father who speaks
To me from beyond the grave.
I am my father in oh so many
Truly unconventional ways.
I see my father’s reflection in
The mirror each and every day
As he remains unchanged.
A light breeze blowing
Thoughts remembered
Covering me
Not soft as a baby’s blanket
Or the pastel hues of sky
This blue dark as midnight
Almost turning black
Even as desert flowers bloom the grief of darkness
Has blocked the sun
On this spring day
Drawn into my own
Complexities of songs
Sung blue
Heard by few
Felt by some
Seen by none
I cannot bring back
What I never had
Passing the plate
Of gratefulness
I feel opaque
Drinking red wine
Remembering those
Missing at the table
At night I sense your body next to mine
So lovingly what dreams are made of
You breathe with me and walk with me
I need no polysyllable interpretations
That’s because I know you by heart