White Helium Balloon
white helium balloon
not quite taut
from summer heat and long ride
in the rental car
let fly
by a son
to picture a father
going to a better place
crowd of friends, family
circle round
watch the orb
rise ? just slightly
then hover
just overhead
string dangling forlornly
barely out of towhead's grasp
sad eyes turn to adults
unspoken comes the question, "Why?"
"Never one to leave a party early"
nods a bearded desert-rat
slowly the drooping symbol
wafts past onlookers
barely skimming yard, garden
comes to stop over newly-mown alfalfa field
Gravity persists
drops it slowly
string entwines
among the green stubble
a calloused hand finds
young boy's shoulder,
shaking, as tears fill
saddened brown eyes
"Heaven's whereever he most loved to be, son.
That'd be right here. His flight was short."
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