Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Shell

If I stoop to gather up Shell,
she will sit like Tinkerbell
in my hand.

Sky cries for her
on Tuesdays

I think its easier
to grieve on a regular basis
she says

Saves those
moments of
stagger step
oh my God realizations

which halt me
midway through a sentence

When we talk of Shell
the air softens
and sound
deadens

Life is muted beneath
the Grey outstretched membranous
wings of deaths hover

as if the rest of the Universe
can afford this small allowance

a tithe of respect

We visit infrequently together now

Sky braves Shells quiet dignified resolve
more readily than I

I want to be
untouched

No funeral

Shell says
her voice
the barest hint of breeze
across the tops of
thin green reeds

Her words
barely cause a ripple

yet

her dying

pushes out
in a wave

to lap upon us.




2 comments:

burning moon said...

Gorgeous! This is so delicate and touching. You had me at 'Tinkerbell' and went on to,

'her dying

pushes out
in a wave'

wonderful finish. The whole poem has the unmistakable signature of authenticity.

Chris Never said...

Thanks mate, tough road this lovely lady has to travel, let me tell ya, the least I can do is chronicle it in the best way I know how.