Offering IV: The Twenty-fourth Day

February 15, 2025

Twenty-four days since you left us

and objects rearrange themselves in your absence

blended, thinned-out

lacking your robust presence,

an inkling of futuring into

something new

On the twenty-fourth day

stability may have faltered

fear stepped in

an audition was called

"play fear."

"play longing."

"play loneliness."

"play grief."

"Play emptiness."

My father once eulogized,

"We aren't sad for the person who died.

We are sad for ourselves."

My selfish mind migrates into

future worlds

what about a memorial?

what shall I say?

what shall I do?

what do I know?

Twenty-four days since you left me.

the place is looking more like mine.