Death In Chicago
She wrote a letter
Which I happily read
In Spring
Summer baked on
Autumn arrived with a chill in the air
Winter followed with snow
Then the call came
Aunt Stella had passed away
Two months shy of her eighty-seventh birthday
Could I travel to Chicago for the funeral?
My cousin’s voice
Was anxious
Time was short
I would have to leave tomorrow.
The wind brought tears to my eyes
And I remembered why
Chicago was called the windy city.
The funeral was surreal
My cousin and I were lost in the room
Our voices echoed in the chamber
We were the only attendees
Where was the rest of the family
The funeral director nodded
He understood
More than we did.
Before the sad procession to the cemetery
We walked to her house
In no particular hurry
Talked old times
Remembered when
There, nestled under trees
We peered through
Rain stained windows
Looked inside an empty house
Sunlight streaming through a den door facing a back garden
We left quietly.
At the cemetery there was a delay
Impulsively
I began reading headstones
At random
Nearby were three
Aligned in a row
Each with the same last name
Following its own order of death
I made out a father, an uncle
And a young boy
Age ten
Standing over his grave
I caught a glimpse of something faded red and metallic
Chipping the frozen ground
I saw
Buried
A toy truck
How long had it been there
I could only guess.
As the Priest mumbled
Half forgotten Catholic prayers
I bent down and carefully
Pressed the toy
Back into the cold
Brittle earth
As it was
Meant to be
Years and years ago.
When the service ended
We looked at each other
My cousin and I
Thoughts and deeds
Of long ago
Brought back memories
I called out to him
Look after yourself.
He smiled and turned
You visit. Stay in touch.
The Priest remained
Where he was
The cold winter sun
Reflecting his bright colored vestments.
Copyright © Edmund Siejka | Year Posted 2008
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