All The Things

My mother's dad died

in an empty room, alone

she was barely old

enough to date, but to grieve?

how do you come back from that

Her sister died in

an all-you-can-eat-buffet

(ls there a gluttony in grieving all you can grieve?)

how do you come back from that

Then her own mother,

the mother of my mother

when it was her own end,

waited until we all were gathered around

before passing in silence

only to give one

last creaking, gaping mouthed, gasp of life

just at the moment that my mom pressed two of her fingers

on the quickly cold neck

with no pulse to feel, so

we all jumped and gasped back

before leaving her there under the sheet

and still, my mother has never come back.