MY SISTER AND MY GRANDSON

I have been talking to my sister    she

may not know she’s been dust and ashes

for the last two years    I talk to her

nearly every day

I’ve been telling her about our new baby

who is serious    comical    busy    dark    my

sister    out of all the rubble and grit

that is now her    my sister mutters    what

about our old baby    he was smart    loving

so beautiful

yes yes I said    listen    just last week

he stopped at my hallway door    he saw

your small Turkish rug    he stared at it

he fell to his knees his arms wide    crying

Jeannie    oh my own auntie Jeannie

remembered    ah    her hard whisper came to me

thank you Grace    now speak to him tell him

he’s still my deepest love