XIII Requiem

by susan zegarsky

I can see how bright the fire was

remember? and I can feel its heat

we tucked in under blankets drinking tea

we turned the pages of our books

one by one the lights around me fail

some names I can’t remember but yours

yours I know all of you by heart

you should be here

I’ve learned to live with so little

the sun a pale stain in the slate sky

howling cracking wind enters my bones

mushrooms from bark buried under moss

tiny birds eating red berries by the pines

junipers cedars the possum skull half out of the snow

it’s just me and

death might be the less monstrous of two evils

the cold salt sea of beyond

I know I must go now the lost speak

softly I have some place I must go