Norma Jo (1968-96)

Your silver hair, blinding blond

flying like a ribbon in the wind.

Dancing in a field of dandelions

We skipped through fields of seagreen grass

Squeals of delight, you found a five-leaf clover.

Held tightly, you were a gift, so rare.

Your whistling breath warming my face

Pink sun, fading, and falling.

Calling our names.

Time to come home.

Blue air, my eyes traveled up there.

Somewhere, flies you

My soul sister, my companion.

Running through slick streets

Your pink feet and flushed cheeks.

Shiny wet our tresses, we clung together

Bell bottoms, sticky mouths

Stained with lollipops.

Gray skies, cold rains

Red cancer stoning blue the crab.

Pinching and clawing through your body

Boiling black your blood

Oil stilling the sails of your surrounded journey.

My face frozen in horror, in shattered silence.

Pieces of your purple heart, floating, bruised, and broken.

__________________