twenty-eight years ago to the day
Died. quietly napping in his baby-sitter's bassinet
while the woman screamed
and an ambulance pierced the winter sky
as cars waited at red lights.
Solomon Rey who left so suddenly right after lunch while the older children played
while Mama built the missiles Phoenix,
Who loved piano sounds but not riding in cars Who cooed when Mama sang
Who didn't like to sleep
in his crib maybe afraid to sleep at all
Who can't go to college today or talk of poetry, girls or brothers
But,
Who can make you think twice about having baby
Who gave me long love looks just days before
I buried my flesh today in a powderbluevelvet casket
while the crisp and cheerful chirps of birds
and while the puffy shimmering clouds
Above the priest
Above the people in a day
in a moment
changed the world
And, Solomon Rey Who,
through smaller threads of memory is fading from detail--
just couldn't stay
© Melinda S. Esparza
