Millie

she slipped away
as I held her in my arms
a final breath escaped
with barely a whimper
I wept
as she was taken from me,
a stethoscope confirming
what I already knew
she was gone
nine years
63
is too young die

with mattock and shovel
I dug a grave
beside the walnut tree
in the backyard
leaves falling
on top of her small cardboard coffin
as I lowered it
into the ground
along with her toys
except one:
a long ragged athletic sock
that we used
for the occasional game
of tug o’ war
she, relentless in her battle
to hang on to it,
and me
always
letting go

**

Cora

During the summer
she would sit on the steps
of her small house
combing her hair dry
in the morning sun.
It was the only time
I could see her hair
in its natural state:
long and flowing,
like a white waterfall,
each strand a testament
to a faith unbroken.

“God knows the number of hairs on your head”,
she told me
in that melodious voice
that was like honeysuckle to me.
“Read your Bible
and regardless of the circumstances,
don’t ever be too busy to stop
and count your blessings.”

Plucking bobby pins from her flowered apron,
she would twist her hair up
into a bun
humming Amazing Grace
while mourning doves cooed their approval.

Though blind,
her eyes bespoke a wisdom
I longed to know.

**

Equilibrium
—for Albert Huffstickler

Just so you’ll know,
I’ve gathered all of your poems
that I could find
into one large document.
I go there
when the day spirals out of control,
to sip coffee,
to hear your voice,
to spin counterclockwise.

**

dream siren

she turns the corner
in an old grey sedan,
hubcaps missing from two wheels,
driver door dented,
engine protesting
her inability to be on time
for a minimum wage job
at the drive-in;
head nodding
to the radio,
flash of a cigarette
between red lips,
jet black hair
streaked with grey,
winner of talent shows,
breaker of hearts,
valedictorian
who wanted to be
a rock star

**

kudzu

a dead pine tree leans over
Highway 220,
north of Greensboro,
suspended by thick vines
wrapped around its trunk;
big rigs speed under
a canopy of brown needles
and lush green leaves
crushing
the occasional pine cone