10/15

A day of prepping for friends coming to visit

Of cleaning and cooking and finally welcoming

Our old friends.

10/14

My Dear always said: I never take you for granted. And he never did.

I tried, always, to let him know he was the best part

Of my life.

10/13

"How are you?" rhetorical, waits to hear, "Good, and you?"

Only, I am not, good. But some know not what to say, yet wish

To be there.

I am thankful to stay in their loop, glad for the time given.

Some get it, returning to normal is never, at best

A different normal.

This kindness of friends, their words of you, often laced with humor,

Allows me motion beyond the grip of grief to a place I might hold it

On my own.

10/12

Quiet morning moments when not a cat sleeps on your side,

Coffee pot needs cups for just one, Delbert McClinton really is giving

It up alone.

Shadows on the workshop path are made by sun shade alone;

Dinner is only me and candles lit in memory, in late moments I lay

finally to sleep

On abed that could be narrowed by half. When I will know

Grief, light or dark, knocks and grief hits daily while my

Heart miss beats.

10/11

Spent the day barefoot padding the backside of Assateague,

Shell-picking with a youngster who would rather not ride

Good beach day

10/10

In a friends sweet visit I find comfort, movement for body, soul

We paint from a neighbor's yard a setting sun in glory and

Drink their wine.

10/9

My name is common - as is yours, my love.

A painting friend and I address to each "the other Linda"

Now another Linda

Walks a path so similar to ours, my love.

Another Jack has left another Linda behind, yet again

Another Linda alone.

We are left to our farewells: fare well our loves.

We fear fair will not be a commodity soon we'll see -

Lost too love.

10/8

Sweet day and evening with painting friends, our work displayed well,

I watch and listen as folks swelled and simple speak their joy

Of our work.

It is a fine thing so many value the work we do

Marvelous when they part with money to take it home

An honor sublime.

As is even, hearing the longing of those who can't afford

But are souls captivated by our simple brushwork, wishing

It was theirs.

10/7

What can I say? The months have piled atop my mind and

I have worked my way through, missing you, as fine as possible but

I am tired.

10/6

The light washes clear, soft, across the far fields and marshes

Under skies tinted cerulean through cobalt filled with dramatic

Purple hues clouds.

The light of three candles cast golden glows and I garner sustenance

From the memories of your love, the support of your friends with the

Food I prepare.

10/5

These days go by not any easier, go not without crying,

However I may look; not by without a thought or three of

Considerations of dying.

However fine the moment, the hour spent, the shallowed

Days clicked off, life clicked off, we both believed time

Here is hallowed.

However hollow the present portion unshared, one must bear;

Beliefs do not allow for shadings, I think now can not risk

Infinity not shared.

10/4

Quietly this day slipped by while other things required tending.

I kept in mind, in heart, quietly, where once on this day we were

And remember quietly.

Twenty three years it would have been.

I would give the world, all of it, in a heartbeat to have you back.

Perhaps, in some way, I have done that - to have had our love

For the time we did.

10/3

Ah what is faith? How to express it? Our Arlo,

Even Cooper, have by faith, a better chance

To see you.

For Faith I find a dear friend, not so within.

Only there find tenets stubborn, sorry, yet

Keep me going.

In humor black I would google death swift

Yet a latent tail of hurricane this night just

Kills the connection.

10/2

Smiling friends come sit with me in the gallery,

Bringing smiles & solace for the soul; then sweet music

For the evening.

10/1

It is with mixed feelings I take to the road this day.

Has all the motion done any good? Yes, but doesn't keep me

From missing you.

It was with mixed feelings I went into this evening,

Seeing some who did come to see my work and me, know some

Didn't, without you.

Glad for welcomes from friends here, glad for seeing

Some paintings sell. Hard not to see who was offering wine

Was not you.