Challenging Poetry

for Caleb re: the eighth anniversary of his death

Greetings and farewell again.
Tomorrow comes too soon
in memories of hospital smells
and dark, painful laughter.

How did we ever come to this?
How could we come to this?
I still dream the echo of your voice
drifting back, unheard in life.
You never cried,

and although you fade with every
passing year--the contour of your jaw,
the shape of your still, still hand
against my pinky finger, they
escape me now--

I promise I never forget. We will
never forget. You left us
bearing our love. No, surrounded
by love--never a burden.
Never.

your loving auntie Rhyssa

line count: 20
April 22: a poem in the form of a letter