Once you had arms
that held me so tight
Once you had legs
that stood up for right
Once you had eyes
that could see in the dark
Once your strong hands
plotted courses to chart
Once we would walk
and the birds would proclaim
Once we would sing
and the heavens refrained
Once we thought time
was our servant and slave
Once, before war
we forgot and forgave
Now that you’re gone,
my memory’s gone dark
Now that you’re gone,
paths unwalked in the park
Now that you’re gone,
surname given and fast
Now that you’re gone
—my heart beats in the past
(Villanova Pennsylvania: January, 2020)
An Anthology Of Perception 