BY VALENTYNA HOLLOWAY
Wind blows through my memories, turning
pages that slowly fade to black. Emotions
they haven’t invented words for choke
my throat and steal my breath. There are
no words for those left behind, no final
good-bye, no smile, no reassurances.
Just silence.
Silence and the wind waving through the verdant
grass, the flowers gently moving in condolence,
the trees lowering blossom laden branches towards
the ground where the remnants of their fallen
leaves lay as they offer understanding.
Life, moving in a slow circle, gently nudging
along unnoticed, aging without our consent.
Instead of walking beside me
you are in my heart now, the finality
of spoken words pressed like blooms
between the beats…and as the world walks by
as I watch the sun slowly set in the sky
I think of you walking in your garden
tending the flowers with the dogs and I know
you are out of pain and at peace.
We told Valentyna not to bother writing a poem this week when her father died. She insisted. Brave Valentyna’s father’s funeral is this afternoon. All associated with Country Squire Magazine send their heartfelt condolences and their very best to our beloved poetess at this sad and difficult time. RIP.