Paradox

 

Beginning at the end…

a snake

eating its tail…

moments circle

brightly

through my mind –

twirling, red-hot tipped sticks

just pulled from the centre of the fire –

clicking through a roulette wheel of

memories

and

the

pin

stops

at

that empty chair

in my former classroom…

the one where

he sat on that Thursday

for Social Studies

but

vacated that Monday

for English

and every class after that

ad infinitum.

 

His funeral,

the following Friday

was beautiful –

as beautiful as a Friday funeral can be

for a 16 year old

bright-souled, impish boy.

 

That end nearly brought

my end –

but for the living.

 

I realise that…

I remember that,

in the shadow of a new end:

the smiling and waving goodbye

(while my heart breaks and wails)

to my eldest child,

my first son,

as he travels

half way across the country

from me

to seek his fortunes…

I remember that

endings

are beginnings,

too.

(c) R. L. Elke 2016