DANCING IN THE SKY

my ancestor
an early Neanderthal
whose name is

something like
a grunt voiced
with open lips

finally makes it
to Heaven
it's taken a long long time

but there are
the Pearly Gates
angels on clouds

harping about
how glorious
it all is

the whole
kit and kaboodle
of tropes

this is not
its idea of
Heaven

Heaven is being
alive in
the here and now

sunshine
on your face
a breeze in your hair

I tell him
it's not my idea either
and we both smile

hold hands
as we walk
back into the past