Haunting Verses
In the pocket of an old coat
about to be donated,
I stumble upon words scribbled on a pad
as I watched my husband die.
“Your love is the most precious thing in my life.
Do you know I see you as a shining star --
my mentor, my lover, my best friend”
Preparing to move,
I find a letter.
a note from the first boy I ever loved.
“I want to date other girls;
but I want to stay friends.”
Why had I saved this?
To renew the pain again in days to come?
We never did stay friends.
In my desk I discover
a verse I wrote while flying to Dad’s funeral.
I’d wanted to read it at the service;
my sister said it was too amateurish.
“For every step my father took,
My child’s legs took three,
‘Daddy, please,’ I called to him,
‘You walk too fast for me.’
“As Dad lay dying carrying years
That numbered ninety-three,
I could not help but say aloud,
‘They went too fast for me.’”
And now as days are numbered,
my muse stepped out the door,
leaving me in God’s hands.
Don’t know if I’ll be writing anymore.
*Entry for Carol’s contest “Pieces of Paper...a Poet’s Heart”
By Carolyn Devonshire
Copyright © Carolyn Devonshire | Year Posted 2011
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