Poem for Laura Benua
First Morning in March for Laura
The birds fly in and I lift my head
to sun broken skies of iron and pearl
trees drawn in a darker lead
icicles hanging from wires uncurl
into old slush slumped in the gutter
the dropping water stutters.
Comes a cry overhead
in a bright dash of red
a cardinal whistling for his mate
where are you where are you
he lays out his bait
and says I am your lover true.
A blue jay hops down and sings
too late too late; a lone
mourning dove turning a ring
mutters too soon too soon
and the crow coughs in his craw
and asks how how?
The cardinal cries to the blue
crack of sky but I see you see you
as all that is left of her sweeps
through the woods and the sun
hides his face and weeps
winter returns and song is done.
Jon, you are so eloquent you brought me to tears. Wonderful.
hi jon, wanted to say thank you for your beautiful words. I knew Laura from Hampshire College and hadn’t been in touch for a long time. my heart is heavy with the loss of the chance to re-connect, so it’s good to see she was still she. so much music and laughter she leaves in her wake
Hi Holly, I’m very happy you found your way to the poem. Laura was loved. Is loved.