Memorial Day 2009

MEMORIAL DAY, 2009

 

From a hill picnic with nameless purple flowers,

the dead appear to us in dreams, ours and theirs,

remembering what it was like, how we were together,

 

Wondering

how we are

how are the tomatoes this year

how about the Dodgers, the election.

 

In dreams, in memories, we catch them up,

tell them

we’re doing fine

or not,

depending.

 

We tell them we miss them

we wish they were here

Alive

this broad May morning,

these clouds,

this stillness,

the smells and sights of barely summer.

 

Grateful for all we have,

which includes the dead,

we name them:

mother, father, son, daughter,

brother, sister, cousin, aunt…

 

The unspooling of the soul takes time.

 

Gentle ghosts of our memories,

we are grateful for all you gave us.

We continue your uncompleted work.