Which parent stays home to meet your son
Which parent waits along the curb
among discarded carnations
and candy grams which parent stares
at classroom doors for any chance
she can utter later, “but for the grace
of god,” “what a tragedy,” “we feel so
lucky” which parent waits and
waits and
waits, the cut-out heart edge jagged on the door
to her room the words you etched the night before
“be mine” “I’m yours” “there is nothing unlovely
about you” which parent traces the paper, the tear
taped over
which parent presses her breath of life to a phone
to whisper the worst truth of love,
that it can be wrenched, ripped, torn, lost,
gone
which parent will remember
to cancel the dinner reservation
the only thing left to do
from the life she knew this morning which parent
will this break which parent
will this turn to dynamite
who will choose the coffin dress
who will carry dried petals in their pockets
who will hold on, and hold on, and hold on
until all that’s left is faded paper hearts and dust
Sarah Marie Wells 
This is haunting, and a gift. Thank you.
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This is so heartbreaking. These parents & siblings, have lost the life they once had. Everything has changed for them. May they have the strength that they need, to survive this loss. Mourning has spoken.
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