poemata schneck

kathryn wilson was my
miraculous friend, who
wanted to be everybody's
mother & had a comprehensive
agenda for reforming the
world.

the love between
us was an un
discovered force in the
universe.

when last i saw
her, she was bowed &
frail & cold. her pride was
unshaken & her gapped-tooth
smile was subtle &
omnipotent as a chinese
empress.

she appointed me to
escort her on the silk road
between her throne room &
bedchamber.

she trusted me to ease
her into bed & take her
cane.

i nudged her
hair aside & kissed her
forehead–

her body blossomed into
sleep.

we couldn't know her
lower bowels were being
ravaged by
death.

the next day, she
abandoned her collapsing
body &

began
her ascension into
paradise.

she would not stay in an
ancient, gilded urn, however
lovely.

her soul longed for
the elegant turquoise sea & the
gentle pink sand of
bermuda.

it's unclear where she'll be
settling just
yet ...

she'll always be wanting to
watch over us & offer
advice ...

& we'll always be wanting to
love her, however &
whenever we
can.