Forced Endings and Beginnings |
This poem is a free verse entry in "Invalid Item" January was upon us bringing longer days, yearly resolutions losing the light, some sort of reckoning promised December could be a memory cherished or banished yearly celebrations, packed away in a dark box until next year One year the tree was taken down seemed as if by magic but there was no magic that year dead in December, cemetery-bound in January We aren't frightened by much these days except the cold winds of winter and the fact that we can't hide from the past packed away temporarily one long ago December when we lost the light forever ~~~~ My Dad died a long time ago on the day before New Years Eve. I talked to him on the telephone at 1:44 PM. I know that because back then there were itemized phone bills and it was a long distance call. I had driven home from his house that Saturday morning. Then I got home and called him. He teased me about driving too fast and we said so long for the last time. He collapsed that evening and died instantly, at home. So, we planned his funeral for the new year that winter and the snows came, a blizzard. Seemed appropriate. Thank you so much to whoever nominated this for an award. I could feel my Dad smiling again. |