Plane Crash in Miami

Bill

I never told you before you slipped away

into the darkness

that mystery that is death

you cannot know

how Christmas should have been

with miniature bulbs all aglow

and children laughing

tearing presents open

playing on the snowless lawn

last year

in 38 years of joy and sorrow

you had no idea

that this would be your last tomorrow

turning over the pages of the past

in flight

you left when the lights went out

last night

surrounded by panic, hysteria and pain

I had no doubt that you would come home again

and Trixie

would be waiting for you at the back door

welcoming you home

until your plane

crashed in Miami.