Memorial Day

Once on a Memorial Day weekend
We were promised a day at the beach
Instead we were met with Police
Coming out of my mother's bedroom
I raised my eyebrows and thought
What has she done this time
It wasn't entirely unusual
To see the police
There was the time she totaled her Corvair
My mother was dead
But I didn't know it yet
The neighbors who took us in
Murmured about blood on the pillow
But I didn't know it yet
I knitted my eyebrows
Cocked my young head
It couldn't be true I said
To myself
She can't be dead
She promised to take us to the beach
It wasn't the first time
She broke her promise
It was the last

A Wake

I dreamt
Of standing on the Bridge
Regarding
Mountainous waves
On the horizon
Repelling
The draw
Of the tide
Gravity
Gaining sea legs
Riding out the storm
Sailing on a wind of change