My Parents Goodbye’s

 

Father

It was a surprise attack

No, it was a sneak attack

Damn those heart attacks

I never said goodbye

 

I was a teenager

Father was a salesman

His last day he worried about the numbers

The next day he was and worried no more

I never said goodbye

 

I remember him in bits and pieces

Like a box of popcorn

The only memories are the bits and pieces left on your shirt

I never said goodbye

 

Mother

Her way to exit

Was no surprise attack

Cancer

Cancer, like a cat, plays with you

The game had several rounds

Lasted years

 

We said goodbye

In that final hour I stroked her leg

I felt like a seven year old

Holding on to her dress

Don’t lose me Mom

We said goodbye

 

Father and Mother

Mother’s long goodbye

Father’s quick exit

I realize now

Life is one long goodbye

Final words

Are in the living

 

____________

Weddings*

She danced

Holding her dress

💓

He danced

Holding her heart

💓

Weddings

A moment

A celebration

A birth

A birth of joy

💓

The young

Alcohol excited their exuberance

💓

The old

Alcohol excites their memories

💓

The band plays on

Playing songs that vibrate a chord

A chord in us all

The chord that all is precious

Laughter and tears

Are heard between sets

💓

Weddings are a precious gift

Between life’s sets

💓

*Dedicated to Mandy and Brian

Political Conventions 2012

Political Conventions 2012

       Republican

I saw a desert

Like the sands of Arizona

Driven by the winds

The winds of talk radio

Middle aged white folks

Driven by the winds of hatred

Against an American of color

       Democrat

I saw a quilt

A quilt of color

I saw tears

Tears to create an oasis

Young and old

Expressing the joy of compassion

A rainbow of acceptance

I saw America