For W

It occurred to me the other day
you've been gone now a couple years
Well I guess it takes a while
for someone to really disappear
I remember where I was
when the word came about you
It was a day much like today
the sky was bright and wide and blue

And I wonder where you are
and if the pain ends when you die
And I wonder if there was
some better way to say goodbye
--PG

I dreamed about you again last night. We were in the front room, weak light streaming in through the lace curtains and women talking and laughing in rayon seafoam dresses and cateyes, the way they did in all those old pictures. You were wearing a dark wool shirt, sitting in the swivel chair looking out the window toward the fencerows and cedars. I held your hand from behind, strong but soft now, and cried silently. I didn't want you to know that I was crying for you.