Peeling on the Obits

Poem about noticing young life lost on the obituary page.

Peeling on the Obits

Preparing the evening's meal
I gathered potatoes and knife
and a piece of newspaper
and settled upon my kitchen counter
to slice

not noticing at first
that beneath me lay
the obituary page

upside down a face
caught my attention
a lovely girl
Angela
only 21

I couldn't remove my gaze
from the beautiful face before me
as I continued with my task
I had to spin the paper
to read about the girl

I felt bad having peeled the skins
to drop them upon that particular page
a page that details the lives
of loved ones lost
as families and friends now shed tears

As I gathered them up
and sauntered sadly to the garbage
I prayed a little prayer
for all names listed on that page

And promised
next time
my peels will land
evermore
in the sports page.