Poem for the Dead

This is a new poem about an old theme - loss of a loved one. I've been trying to write this poem for about five years to no avail.

Then tonight, it came to me almost word for word from wherever the words come from.

I thank the Muse.

Karen

A POEM FOR THE DEAD (for John C.)


You did not know we were there

In our suits and high heels

Gathering like crows

At dawn

Enclosed in a casket

Your eyes closed against the light

You’d have hated that

After all you lived your whole life

With open eyes,

Balls to the wall

Triple-A personality with

The heart of a thistle

Yet enough fire

To kindle

Hearts into conflagration

And kindness enough

To rescue a kitten

From a tree too high to climb

No tree too high for you

You swung from broken branches

As light as a wren

With chainsaw roaring

As if to bring a city to its knees

Or the women

Who loved you too long

And there were always

Women

Now the sons and daughters

Gather,

A freckled daughter-in-law with tear-splashed

Cheeks

Already a mother

And another on the way

A son who loved you so hard

It turned to hate

Two ex-wives

And a lover

Later

Now you will be alone

For the first time ever

Under the earth you loved so much

You wore it

Now there is nothing to do

But throw red roses

At your casket

As if they were words.


Karen Sykes (aka Karen Waring)