BLOCKED

My pencil tries to draw

what I remember of Nali.

But something in me

will not let

the red

shape her face,

ears,

nose.

Nali’s nose.

Always nuzzling me at night,

always waking me,

warm

with its prodding.

Nali, always tickling me,

wanting to play.

This I miss most about Nali.

Why can’t I make

my pencil

shape

a picture

of Nali’s body,

plump as a feed sack

stuffed with grain?