49 Days After Your Death
-Cosumnes River Journal, Spring 2008
On the 1st day of your death, sheets from the book of Lamentations were shredded and wrapped around your belongings.
On the 7th day those you have known or who have known you improvised regrets. I did not.
On the 18th day after your death, a wave of mothers caved into the first tier of the Inferno, and they searched for you.
The day before that a 200-year-old whale surfaced onto the south beaches of Ecuador. 5 days later the locals had it exploded and it rained pieces of it. Was it you?
On the 27th night after your death—moon waning, I almost did not think of you.
On the 39th day all the lovers left their others—as an offering to you.
It was near high-noon on the 46th day after your death when I saw a shadow shrinking.
For 3 nights following I dreamt the sounds of hearts breaking.
This morning all the birds in the Sycamore were silent.
