i went to her grave again last night
over eight hours away, i went and laid next
to her ashes
i brought her brand of cigarettes
her brand of beer
i brought her a crossword puzzle

she didn’t have much to say
so i did most of the talking
as usual

like when i was six and Tony Bluto would
pick on me during recess, i’d slam my book
bag into the ground and hide underneath the
kitchen table as she’d peak under her glasses
as she’d peck at the typewriter

“problems, Denny,” she would say

and i’d unload

when i went to her grave again last night,
over eight hours away, her ashes laying there
alone, i unloaded

but nothing happened, nothing was said,
and i ended the evening with a question

“how do i become a better person,”
and that’s when it began to rain

***** made it rain.