10/23

Indeed grateful for all inclusions felt, yet

Recognize that in the laundry of life, am now

An unmatched sock.

10/22

The hours - sweet to tarry and talk with a friend,

Welcomed into her circle filled wisely - are a balm

For strength needed.

10/21

Not glad to close the door on our fine animals,

My friends, family such as it is. I am off along

The road alone.

10/20

This night I am looking for sleep

Having filled the day with anticipation

Of tomorrow's road.

This day the room you called your own

Has changed, you would not recognize it

Much, I'm sad.

This morning came with the soft drumming

Of rain, gray light and horses snorting

And dogs snoring.

10/19

Months of movement manages only so much.

So a little I've learned, I'm quieter maybe, sadder, and now

I am tired.

Tired as chores pile, as duties demand attention, and

I wonder what's missed, while crossing done off a list

that never ends.

Tired of really having only myself to rely on, inept,

unorganized, unstable, unclear, wondering how one keeps

a steady course.

10/18

Through these past fall days, with company or no,

I walk under skies magnificent, weather soft and you

Ever in mind.

10/17

Deep clear blue skies soar above, we ride a morning

searching for glory. With company, I see this beauty

Alone without you.

10/16

In a moment, odd, it hits our old friends

That however finely we might speak of you,

You are gone.

A gesture, remark, the order of your shop,

It hits, you are gone. Then, the moment moves on,

As do they.

Normal, of course, I recognize others will get on,

Natural to do. I know 'we' were paramount only

To you and me.

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.