For my friend and her family

Autograph

Yesterday I signed the books

of rambunctious boys

and skittish girls

spilling with life

happy in their today

secure in their tomorrow

Today I signed a guest book

at a water-washed funeral

saw a face that smiles no more
tried not to see a flower-laden coffin

said goodbye for the last time

The Funeral

The clouds float

at half-sky today.

Low as the sky

we say goodbye

then laugh with people

we’ve not seen for years.

It reminds us

that happy and sad

are closeknit kin

and that it is good

that tomorrow

is shrouded.