My Wacky Friend, Grief by Nolcha Fox and Barbara Leonhard

I find her in my attic

rummaging through an old cedar chest

filled with broken hearts.

She’s donned Mom’s

silky wedding dress.

But on her head,

Grandpa’s fedora. Her shoes,

Grandma’s slippers.

In her hand, some letters

tied with a red ribbon.

I find her in the breakfast nook

crying over spilled coffee,

or drinking all the liquor

while paging through

old photo albums.

She wails because the loss is new,

years later wails because

she cannot remember.

She pours him

a cup of coffee daily.

Places it on an altar for him

next to a photo

of a dashing youth.

Lights a small candle.

Another day sips away.

The coffee gets cold.

The picture fades.

The candle burns out.

She looks at the altar,

can’t remember why it’s there,

but knows someone is missing.

Time for another cry.

Why is it that

some days are sunny?

Some days are bleak?

Some days grief

sleeps or just sighs?

Why is it that

my wacky grief

never dies?

Bio:

Nolcha Fox: Nolcha’s poems have been curated in Lothlorien Poetry Journal, Alien Buddha Zine, Medusa’s Kitchen, and others. Her poetry books are available on Amazon and Dancing Girl Press. Nominee for 2023 Best of The Net. Editor for Open Arts Forum. Accidental interviewer/reviewer. Faker of fake news.

Website: https://bit.ly/3bT9tYu Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nolcha.fox/ Instagram: @nfoxauthor

Barbara Leonhard is an internationally known prize-winning poet and Pushcart nominee. She is especially indebted to Well Versed 2021: A Collection of Poetry and Prose and Spillwords Press for past honors. Her debut poetry collection, Three-Penny Memories: A Poetic Memoir (Experiments in Fiction, 2022), which is about her relationship with her mother, who suffered from Alzheimer’s, is a best seller on the Amazon. Barbara is also Editor for MasticadoresUSA. You can follow her on WordPress at https://extraordinarysunshineweaver.blog.