by Susan Vespoli
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| Allex Gomes photo for Unsplash |
“I want to warn you. They shot a woman in Minneapolis and her story will trigger you, remind you of Adam’s murder.” —Christopher
When the world is crying
and the newscasters are crying
and your email inbox is crying
and Facebook is crying
and memories of your son
are crying, remember
how he came to you
as a hummingbird. How he still
comes to you as light. Open
the patio door and step outside.
Look at the tubs of bright marigolds,
faces up. Pompoms of coral and blood
orange, persimmon petals like lace,
rippley and delicate and flamboyant.
Watch in awe as a butterfly lands,
flits from one blossom to another,
perches on tiny wire feet, its wings
wallpaper triangles or black dotted
Velveeta cheese slices slit on the diagonal,
wings that open and close like a fan
and the monarch lets you approach, lets you snap
photos and it sees you and reminds you
of the hummingbird, ethereal messenger
sent by the sky. Lean in and listen
till it lifts off, flies so close to your cheek
as it leaves, it whispers: breathe.
Susan Vespoli’s heart goes out to Renee Good’s loved ones and community. Vespoli believes in the power of poetry to heal.
