dealing with

voluble, garrulous, dealing with regret

and loss of function with loss of use

of limbs, he deals out words as though

all who come to visit are game to hear

again and again his same stories,

not of unmanly woe, but male triumphs

with big machines, heavy equipment

admiring blonds who circle and smile

and later turn nasty and vicious

and drive him to drink

he has needs, but trying to help him

is proving costly

grief shouldered

weighed by the death of a teenager

i’d teased and listened to and loved

remarking to myself his near approach

to the manhood he will now not know

and the depth of his love – and theirs

of him – of two generations of family

we will attend his celebration of life

but mourn those broad shoulders

had never borne the weight of children

of his own

truth

hair transparent

it is reflection, refraction, distortion

trick of light

that reaches us

makes him white

he is the inevitable, invisible

male pacing, stalking

myth

Harold

warm gratitude for the quirks of life

and a gentle humor that manifested

as chuckles of irrepressible joy

we will miss this life-affirming gentleman

in memory of Virginia Heald

In memory of Virginia Heald

Haiku

gentle soul smiles welcome

bending to help without a word

but encouragement

                                    mjNordgren  2/16/2024 N

whispered thanks

another gray day but clear

so i can see across the valley

to portland’s west hills

and hints among the clouds beyond

of cascade mountain snow peaks

i whisper thanks to my earl

for his generosity and caring

in building our home

on this stubborn foothill

in fulfillment of my wanting

to watch each morning’s sunrise

i’m on my feet

i’m on my feet

even answering questions

and working on the play

i am setting up

but i’m empty

and no judge

of the rationality

in what i am doing

loved beauty

 a second sunrise he

has missed on earth

who designed our father’s

funeral brochure, pastel

with small plane gliding over fields between surrounding hills

if only one of us could now

create his with as much

loved beauty.

drained

drained from loss

after loss

from effort needed

to put up a front

always knowing

incredible blessings

but needing to hide

now

just for a while

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despite

her wondrous laughter

telling of family gathering

honoring their loss