Orion's Belt

I lay my head down

cranium yawning open

and sleepy words like starmilk

streak across the night sky.

1978 My birthday

Candles emblazoned on my cake

amidst santa and his sleigh

and the plastic trees with

frosted icing.

December 27th

Orion's belt in

my grandmother's eyes.

Her memory retreating

she saw my spark and told me so.

I wake to the

click clack of knitting needles

the scent of buttermilk biscuits, concord grape jelly

before fading.

My field of pillows

wet with snow.

for My grandmother M Jungmann

Comments: 4

♯ ♪ Sep 26, 2006, 5:41pm EDT

This a truly wonderful tribute to your grandmother. You must have loved her very much!

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Mark J. Sep 27, 2006, 9:33am EDT

I did and still do. I miss her terribly the anniversary of her passing was 9/23.

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John F Walter Sep 27, 2006, 6:12pm EDT

A superbly condensed impressionistic poem that uses wonderful indirect imagery--"Orion's belt" (the allusion to Blade Runner, the cyborg shutting down) and "my field of pillows, wet with snow" to telegraph to the reader intense love for your grandmother and grief for a whole universe passing when she passes.
Wonderful piece, Mark.

reply to this comment

Mark J. Sep 28, 2006, 10:37am EDT

Thanks John, I appreciate the constructive critique.

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