Last light
Sun goes down
Another year
That was a lot
As entire years tend to be
I reflect on the natural
(Some intended
Others not)
Consequences of my mortal choices
One or two in particular
That involved great loss
I think of my life in seasons
The this season or the that season
The season of her
The season of him
The season of them
I recall who I was
When I was with them
What it felt like
Who I am now
I wave at her
From across time
I smile at her sweet face
I see her and feel her pain
The tumult of impossible choices
I tell her that I see her doing her best
That it's beautiful
Astonishing even
How courageous she is
I don't lie to her
About happy endings
I tell her the truth
That she will always feel
The sting of her losses
She will wonder from time to time
About the choices unchosen
The paths unwalked
I'll hold her worried gaze
Deep inside my love-filled eyes
I'll tell her the story of how I met
The ones who healed my
Impossible wounds
Over time
How they're still healing me
How I'm still healing me
How together we heal and we hold
As we walk and stand together
Inhale exhale
Swooshing side by side
And the sun sets
Through shadowy ancient redwood trees
Living
Breathing
Dying
Holding onto one another
In holy communion
Jaclyn Edds Konczal | December 2022