(1930-2016) 

 
when we found you i 
split in two— 
  
                                   one thrashing
                                   for words words 
  
the other wind 
listening 

  			          * 	
								
in the nightmare i am 
holding your head            
above water 
  
in another i am 
the water        
        
                                  * 
  
            &  down here 
your eyes 
            are headlights 
in the rain 
            where i drown 
out sirens
            the violin 
rising & 
            falling like  
wings i
            can’t break i  
can’t break        
            but here  
                                  * 
  
is the mirror     your face     shining 
  
                                  * 
and i— 
 
am that same january sky 
the girl the mom the grandmother 
  
                                  * 
this is why— 
when the boy asks if i  
believe in ghosts i 
won’t say     yes  /  no 
  
                                  * 
  
i’ll tell him 
look in my eyes—  	  
                              	  see the mother slipping off 
        	                  her shoes    her sweater 
  
see her wading 
toward herself?