She inhales a scent of memory
Old sweater that remembers the body it enfolded
Releasing comforting peace amid grief.
.
.
Thinking of a character in a short story I’ve been crafting, today.
poem-anniversary July 25, 2016
It has been one year
without you.
I could take off mourning now,
remove a black cloak of outward grief,
but I will never remove the sense of loss.
It has been one year
without you,
but I still hear your voice
I hear your laugh,
your bad jokes,
another repetition of your life story.
I could take off a mourning cloak
but I will wear you on my shoulder,
hear you in my ears,
love you with every breath
until we meet again.
.
https://shawnbird.com/2015/07/25/obituary-herbert-mosses-duguay/
poem-universe July 13, 2016
The universe conspires to send us messages.
Warm greetings from those who’ve gone ahead
Into the vast unknown, and we receive their love
and keep them alive in memory.
poem-2 love July 3, 2016
I pass the tennis courts
where you used to play
and hope you’re getting matches
in heavenly doubles games.
poem- glimpse June 23, 2016
I laughed a little
remembering you,
saw a glimpse of your smile
between two clouds,
felt the comfort only you could give,
wished you were here
for more than a
glimpse.
poem-moment June 15, 2016
In a moment
everything she thought she’d be
was sliced away.
In a moment
simple expectations yielded
to new arrays.
In a moment
opportunity seized her hand
to her dismay.
In a moment
foolish disappointments
were child’s play.
In a moment
her entire future was pulled
onto a new pathway.
poem-small June 14, 2016
Onyx eyes, black beads,
glisten with wishes,
please take the gift,
toss gently, I’ll retrieve.
It’s only time between us;
you are almost all I’ve known of love,
though you may grieve
for what has been before;
I am now, and while I’m still small,
you’re all I want and need.
With time between us,
your love for me will grow.
poem- memory May 12, 2016
The scent of dinner,
Your favourite,
brings you back to life,
calls you from beyond
in a gush of anguish.
Oh, I long to look
into your sparkling eyes,
and serve you soup.
poem-realities May 4, 2016
It’s hard to love you
when you shred me,
slice my skin on the sharp tips
of those needle teeth.
It’s hard to love you
when you track mud,
make puddles, and leave
stinking pellets behind you.
It’s hard to love you
but your eyes twinkle,
and your tail wags
and you keep trying to climb into my lap
It’s hard to love you
but the hard things are worthwhile.
I’m building a love story
with training and time.
poem-solemn April 15, 2016
Oh, how I miss your solemn eyes
Dark brown pools of devotion
and doggy wisdom.
Oh, when I stare into the
bright black buttons
of a puppy’s giddy newness,
I know how soon
he will have ancient wisdom,
and leave us, too.
Shawn L. Bird 