The rocks of longing in my heart build cairns

that balance serendipitously on dunes built of sugar

like the sweet and sticky buns of my youth

sounds of sucking my fingertips

before dipping them in the sands of the Ocean City beach

where I lie in ageless wonder at Vanessa’s poise

as she topples the stones

only to rebuild them with sandhands

outlasting the incoming tides with their sweet memories

shifting sands of time my ass!

the wandering waves of grief

create as they reclaim

Vanessa’s laugh coming now from my throat

the little sis who I still am

with the broken shells she gave me as a joke

that I now treasure and always will

the sickly sweet sounds of breaking seashells

that burst me open

freeing my tears

Grazie mille sis

the waves seem to scream

lapping up against the cairn in my heart