Dead 2 months, she’s standing,
leaning against a gray boulder
in sand, lake gleaming behind. 25? 26?
In a modest one-piece swimsuit,
her shape. Mom!
Her voice thickened to graceful
sentences in the memoir
she read aloud to 3 young sons
and Dad, evenings, about a farm
family moved Southwest, as we had
but us so Dad no limping on ice.
This image found today—
where is he? The poetry lover
before engaged but carrying
Mom’s arrow
in the world to find
his true work before drafted, married
to Mom, then wrecked in combat.
Bands of sun in long, dark hair that
frames a half-grin.
Who captures,
gives the image?
Pro athlete?
Astrophysicist?
Prose writer?
Hurry up, Dad!
.
George Shelton
Picture Rupert Loydell
.