Tags
30 days of Poetry, 30 poems in 30 days, balloon release, loss, national poetry month, poetry, poetry month, remembering, suicide
(18/30 – 30 Poems in 30 Days – April National Poetry Month)
[Prompt: Balloon Release]
We had gathered
together
as a family
one year after
to remember
because remembering is what the living do
We shared the hurt
as well as the memories
In our possession
42 balloons
how old she would’ve been if she was still with us
then
she’d be 51
now
We released them
one at a time
into the sky
a parting wish
of all the things we wanted to say
time we wish we still had
she was someone’s wife, sister, daughter, friend
she was my mentor, my teacher
had just barely scratched the surface of what a friendship we could’ve had
conversations I wish I could remember
I’m still trying to follow in your teaching footsteps
hoping to inspire as many as you did
your memory is still with me
still with so many of us
this year marks 10 years
I will release a balloon again in your honor.
Sincerely, Lori 