And now upon that pillow lay
all that remains of the tragic day.
Reduced to a box, his ashes stay

Wrapped up in a blanket
given at birth.
Will anyone know how much he was worth?

I want the world to know!
I remember--I remember well;
So my sweet brother, your life I'll tell.

To try to forget a loss so great,
they swept up reminders of the terrible day
and all the days that had gone before.
They just shut the door,
as if you'd never been.
Gone were the photos.
Where are the toys?
Can't we even remember the JOY?

I lay beside your box
before we take you to the sea.
For now... you are here with me.
Your scent deep inside this blanket sweet.
Will you stay, if I keep it neat?
Or like memories, will you fade away?

The years have passed and I am old but still I wonder where you are.
Then suddenly I see you walking by--the grown man you should have been-- tall and handsome,
blonde and bright,
just like my own two boys.
And I hold them close.

I’m a tube of toothpaste
With the bottom rolled up tight
And every last bit of peppermint’s
Squeezed out right.
Twisted, empty, crinkled,
Flat out on the windowsill
Minty fumes residual.

It’s just spackle.
Cracks start
And you keep cleaning it out
And filling it up
With new brands
But it cracks again
Because it’s just spackle
And so it’s gonna crack
Because the house shifts
When it rains
When it blows
In the sun
Nothing stays the same
So spackle cracks
And that hole
Needs filling.
I’m tired of brands;
Seems there ought to
Be a Carpenter
Who’ll fix the holes
For good.

The Winter Fairy danced last night;
Her Opalescence fell light
upon the trees, now shimmering bright--
in the sunshine, glitter white.

And sugar-paper cut-out trees
Shower snow dust in the breeze
While children, snow up to their knees,
Gather on the village Green.

They trod up hills through the countryside
To find the fastest thrilling ride,
While angels watch on the side lines
Transcendent stamps of winter time