Today — —
you rest
remembered — — in
— — a space — —
a place
of sand — — and
ash
pawprints — — upon
— — an urn
a soft spot
a safe — — sojourn
waiting — —
having left — — me
listening
— — to your
memories — —
writing space
— — finding time — — is
forever — — in
my heart.

In — — the space — —
of a lifetime
— — lived
— — you ran
across — — the sand
fetching
— — bounding
— — as a butterfly — —
across
milkweed pressed — — to
the land.

I touch — —
through — — space — —
my fingers — — dive
into — — your softness — —
feeling
— — you — —
against my fur
chest — —
remaining
ashes — —
clinging — — to
my skin.

Inside — — darkness’
— — space — —
you lay — — scattered — —
sitting
at attention — — for
release — — a
— — word — —
“Come.”

∞

Submitted as part of “National Poetry Writing Month – 2017” (#NaPoWriMo2017).  Today’s prompt: write a poem that explores a small, defined space. Any space will do – so long as it is small, definite, and meaningful to you.

Post-script: written on the occasion of Ben’s 21st birthday. I miss you.

All text and photography © Dale Schierbeck

…. more of my original Poetry on EatsWritesShoots here.