Each Memorial day I visit my dad’s marker at sunrise with any of my brothers who are able to make it.
It’s early and I step into emotion.
A dozen years laid down and tears
that burned off so many sunrises ago
now build up in cloud filled memories.
The precipitation begins and I shuffle
through all those that have cast their
shadow on me in memorable ways.
He was one who smiled half way
and laughed sideways and I
wish I could tell him half
was enough and side was a way.
He always was self defacing
and ended conversations in
apologies.
As the tears fell onto
a shadow I realized how translucent
I really am without him…how transparent
life really is when the sun pastes a stick
figure across the stepping-stones.
It was a rainbow that appeared within
the tears that promise came heavy
and every life lays down as a stepping
stone of formation.
………………………………..
Remembering my dad today.