Aftershock
For so many years I lived in fear of
losing love again,
loneliness preferable to
transient bliss, something I could count on.
Then you made me laugh, infectious
laughter, like a stoned creek’s sighs.
A woman with so much sadness in her life
made me her chocolate man
found some joy in me
of all people, fragile poet that I am.
Rhythm’s nourishment, manna from heaven,
rhyme, icing on the cake.
But happiness is so fragile isn’t it,
expectations of loss
almost the same thing -
gypsy fortune teller views crystal ball.
Then she leaves you too, no new address,
future connection uncertain at best.
Time passes and I find myself still laughing
even after your son’s death
an apparent suicide,
part of this life, but not seen as a curse.
Sad for sure, but God too, is not to blame,
all known life terminates.
And yet you and I persist, beyond reason,
our creation’s big bang
mysterious too though
hardly something to hang your hat on.
And that we still feel love at all
An unexpected aftershock.
Brian Johnston
January 9, 2016
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