After - Erin Riley

[Larry Robinson]

After

after you fell
to your death
I kept falling
and in that
there was a great hush
and concentric circles formed
of my thoughts
from the agonizing moment
we had to stop searching
the circular possibilities

I always knew you were free
that I could feel
and even celebrate

then three years

clean, broken skeleton
recovered
brought down the massive mountain
on the rhythmic back
of a black horse

For a little while
I lived to bring those bones home
to lay them down
one by one
I cradled 
your crushed skull
in my hands
I held your hand in mine
and I gave you
a final goodbye
this time with my body
and yours
in attendance

The drenched dreams
of your future earthly life
wrung dry

	- Erin Riley