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Aftershock

For so many years I lived in fear of
	losing love again,
		loneliness preferable to
	transient bliss, something I could count on.

	Then you made me laugh, infectious
		laughter, like a stoned creek’s sighs.

A woman with so much sadness in her life
	made me her chocolate man
		found some joy in me
	of all people, fragile poet that I am.

	Rhythm’s nourishment, manna from heaven,
		rhyme, icing on the cake.

But happiness is so fragile isn’t it,
	expectations of loss
		almost the same thing -
	gypsy fortune teller views crystal ball.

	Then she leaves you too, no new address,
		future connection uncertain at best.

Time passes and I find myself still laughing
	even after your son’s death
		an apparent suicide,
	part of this life, but not seen as a curse.

	Sad for sure, but God too, is not to blame,
		all known life terminates.

And yet you and I persist, beyond reason,
	our creation’s big bang
		mysterious too though
	hardly something to hang your hat on.

	And that we still feel love at all
		An unexpected aftershock.


Brian Johnston
January 9, 2016

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