LOSSES by Thad Buckley

She was asleep when I came to bed.

A small smile on her face. I know the reason why.

It’s Mother’s Day.

The smile will be gone in the morning,

And she’ll take her treasure off the fridge,

Hold it to her heart, and put it away.

Until next year.

We made a boy, years ago. And lost him.

Only six. So sweet.

I gave her pearls that year. She loved them.

But David gave her the treasure.

Stick people art, she and he, holding hands.

The sun up high. By the lake.

I was on the shore, with the dog.

The smile will be gone, and I’ll see the pain

Not just in her eyes. Her body, tight.

The way she moves, I hurt.

I try to tell her how I feel. She’s lost her son.

But I’ve lost them both.

My words I find to tell her

Not enough.

On Father’s day, we take a walk

An old man and his dog. I find a bench by the lake

And sit. Close my eyes and dream

How it might have been.

I hear my name and turn. She’s waving,

A smile on her face. And then I see

Little David has her by the hand.