National Poetry Writing Month, day 10: A Brief Meditation on Grief

A Brief Meditation on Grief

Dad left in 1983, Brian 2018, Mom 2020, Harold 2025.

Four years brought four kinds of grief.

Dad was only 49. Brian was the younger brother.

Mom’s suffering ended. Harold got a tough break.

..

Many Thanksgivings Mom used her turkey roaster,

Dad demanded rutabagas, Harold and Brian and I

Ate like savages and clowned around

With pearl onions and gravy and green Jell-O salad.

..

Brian’s ashes are on my shelf of knickknacks.

I keep trying to make a good urn for them.

Brian seems to tell me from time to time

Yeah, Gary, no rush, don’t worry.