Literature
Hereafter
Great uncle Henry's funeral was on a Sunday
of deep skies and up-drafting clouds, and
everyone stood around the mahogany coffin as it
glistened in the drifting patchwork of sunlight
while I kept my eyes on it, knowing that soon
I would lose sight of it forever.
His mother died in childbirth, and he always felt
responsible. What a terrible weight on one's self.
I reached out to place my hand on the coffin
and murmured, "Your mother will explain, Henry."
My mind was blank during the long trip, and when
I got home, I sat alone in the kitchen and kept
dialing his voice message speaking from the
hereafter as I wept, before the ser