Four Years

Memorial Poem

Four Years

 

Four years

the perpetual yew

slowly fills a coffin-shaped air space

atop your eternal rest

as if that’s where you lie

and we need a green 3-D marker

along with your headstone

to find our way back to you.

 

Time rockets past

while we stroll our memory lanes

raise teenagers in

years long tugs-of-war

and feel internal cracks and wrinkles

grow from our insides out

announcing themselves

with each creak, spasm and groan.

 

We carry you, become you,

the horizontal line across my neck

is your reminder

there’ll be no forgetting.

You thought you’d have more time

but when we look in our mirrors

time stares right back

daring us to blink.

 

The sixth night is yours now

menorah candles burn fast memoriam

a yahrtzeit turtling alongside

and I slow just enough

to see your age-lined face

the same thoughtful watching

of your children and their children

as your own flame burned low.

 

© 2008 David P. Eckert

 

Reviews

[Gandré]

....what I adore about your poetry: it is an incomparable museum of ideas some weird figures from a relationship but with your special, ornamental recluses or .... members designed as quarks. I like the learning; including my review of my adventures within, too.. there is no literarary opinion when not amphibiously seeking for the essence and this is what I always have to do -- when I say......the night has swept away all his wealth and seeking... but his imagination is what will be here ....tomorrow even stronger.
wonderful deep writing. adored.