for Thomas F. Coman Sr.
Just one
Of a kindness
Unseen
These days
A mensch among men
Placid amid the storm
Sheltering steadiness
Rising above it all
Anonymous not clamorous
Good and faithful servant
Well done
Done well
Light perpetual
Shine in silence
So be it
Be it so
Ever and anon
Shore-ward sailing
remember that yardstick?
(more like two of them)
a metric that mattered
(so we were told)
social distancing
defining where
one aura began
another ended
(I should have said era)
up there
aboveground
not that 6 feet
for god's sake
and then today
or was it yesterday
(time has become so timeless)
as I walked by the school
elementary, so primary
colors, I saw those chalk outlines
body shapes
pastel designs
I am sorry to report
that reminded me
of a TV crime scene
(a not-very-parenthetical aside
I am told)
all kidding aside
I wish I didn't go there
don't you
I wish we all did not
go there or anywhere
like that
on a field of blue and yellow
sky and gold
on plains of wheat
and cities of old
an ancient rain falling
fresh as blood
and raw as meat
a lone baby crying
an aria forgotten
and a mercy unsuckled
a prayer still screaming
