Nantes

A most beautiful girl child

So stunning, it was low-key

Generally assumed by all

She was fey

Rich, dark eyes

Elven features

Preternatural gift for drawing dragons

Half her soul was in this world

To lavish unadulterated affection

On every springer spaniel in existence

The other half

Residing in fable’s lore

Nose pressed to page

Literature devoured with glee

Dark days came

Diagnosed

With a rare form of brain cancer

At nine years old

Four bitter years were spent

Battling the depraved demon

Until her last day came

Heavy with relief

And bottomless grief

I have only ever been to one funeral

That ripped my soul asunder

This song was playing

As her parents stood to embrace

The living

Before this moment

The song lived rent free

In my head

A bright ribbon of music tied

To a joyful concert

Surrounded by friends

Swaying to its melody

Rich with depth and delight

Now when I try to listen

Both feelings spring forth

This is why

I believe

Grief is love unspent

There is no difference between

The expansion in my lungs

When I hear its rich euphony

And the heavy mantle of loss

Just like you and I exist

Simultaneously

Living our lives on opposite sides of the world

Each can expand without an opposing compression

But maybe that’s a lie I am telling myself

Writing this poem

Listening to the lyrics

The weight overrides my lightness

And I am back there

Looking into her mother’s eyes

Desperately trying to

Share her burden

To hold her above deep waters

A futile effort

She must carry the weight of this song

Of her life

So I will sway with lightness

Arms twining toward the heavens

For her sake

And her daughter