May 1988

Part Two

a year ago

or so

our mothers met in K-Mart

and talked

as mothers will

of their growing single sons

and their thoughts on marriage

yours: the field is getting larger

mine: let’s just wait and see

now

after your sudden fall

I’m still waiting

you have the greatest field of all

Sadness comes at the death of peers,

even those unknown.  Twenty six years

is not enough, death too high a price

to pay for childhood’s folly.