Poem for Thursday, February 13, 2014

Make Sure

"And whoever is afraid of death will carry it on his shoulders."
                                                                               - Federico Garcia Lorca

Minutes before her heart stopped, she
was telling me not to forget to
feed the dog, how often to water
her potted tomato plants. Make sure,
she reminded, to angle them away
from the sun at its brightest.
She used her last bit of strength
to clench my finger, explaining her love
through curved skin.

                                                     (homage paid to Jack Gilbert's "Married")