Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Elegy

[Read Write Poem challenged us to write an elegy. I had trouble with the subject until I remembered the jolt I got (many years ago now) when reading a campus newspaper.]


Unexpected Death Notice

She was so young! and I
had not known she was ill.
I cannot believe I won't bump
into her on campus, on my way
to the bank or the post office.
It makes me feel emptier,
and ashamed I didn't know.

She was the boss of my boss,
chic and savvy, with impeccable
taste and a great deal of patience
for my impetuous boss and others.
I thought she was fair, but a bit
gullible. She lost her cool
when she thought we had
pieced together the shredded
files from the bag outside her door.
But her smile was less
than chic, a little rough
around the edges and
it made me like her more.

I saw her name and picture
in the campus newspaper
and I sent a copy to my old
boss, who had moved on
years ago. He was shocked
too and we commiserated.
And days later, I still can't
believe she's dead, while
I'm still here.


7 comments:

Janet said...

very beautifully written. I'm sorry for your loss.

sister AE said...

Thanks, Janet. It was a long time ago but the prompt stirred this up.

Anonymous said...

Wonderful memories, this is a good way to not forget.

Anonymous said...

Very well said, very vivid, very real -- the reminder of lost possibilities.

sister AE said...

Hello, Andy. Thanks, and I thnk you are right.

Thanks, throwshiswords.

Anonymous said...

Life is such...

irrationality

sister AE said...

Hi, Guatami. Thanks.