dries to bone

gather the crops
and put me to pasture -
long winter coats
and hats on the nail
sing me our song
to remind me of breathing
take me to meeting
where the creek
dries to bone

walk with me now
through the pain of becoming
what I feared most
when we parted that day -
of longing to sleep
the stars o'er the meadow
and carved our initials
much deeper
than ache

some faraway
somewhere -
the geese are returning
spread cross the sky
til we can't see the sun
and fashioned their moon
from something less shining
of a moment we held
to forever this way

scatter my bones
as proof of surrender -
and tell not the others
I was destined
to fall -
read every word
aloud at my passing -
warm let your hands
to my heart
fold around

to hold this - the last
of my joy in distressing
will you know
when I'm gone -
that I am
when darkness
remembers
each sign of forgiveness
long winter coats
and geese on the night