Red Umbrella

I walked slowly across the manicured lawn To her flowered gravesite. She’s gone And I held her umbrella vivid red Rubied and glistening overhead Red like her lips I will ne’er again meet Ruddy like her cheeks once perfumed sweet Midst cold rain, like my tears, from darkening skies I then looked down the row and met his soft eyes A small dog tightly curled and I surmised Was at the feet of his master that was no more Lying wet at the threshold of a closed door Then he gazed intently at my kind face And said, can I share a bit of dry space You seem to be lost weeping alone And I need some warmth as I’m chilled to the bone So I welcomed him there and let him draw near Till the drops ceased their flow and it became clear Then I smoothed down his hair with her old wooden comb And whispered to him gently – let’s go home 11.8.18