Afterwards

We discuss the soul,
ponder death’s postlude, then choose
the happy ending.

Upon reading the work of a great writer

Breathless, punched in the
gut seeing language evolve,
my own words falter.

Mortality

That first brush with death
shook loose her confident grasp
of all she held dear.

Respects

They hadn’t spoken
in a year, but she came home
to wish him goodbye.

At 22

You’re gone, leaving class
mates to learn that last lesson:
life can be too short.

 

 

Mike’s death

Liked by all, no one
knows why he veered off the road
toward eternity.

Two hours of sleep

Eyes red focus shot
totally worthless but I
still need that paycheck.

Dizziness diagnosis

He feared brain blood clots
but it’s labyrinthitis.
He’ll live after all.

Dizzy

Why his head spins he
doesn’t know. Vertigo’s made
the world hell’s fun house.

Hope

Dark fear crackling at
the edges, the heart beats on,
pulsing core of light.