Death Poem

late summer sun warms

grasses just going to seed,

meteor showers

catch the breath and light the night,

tides rise and fall — what remains?

This year's poem was inspired by some powerful haiku written by women poets in their middle years.  The metaphors of nature, of autumn, as a way to describe the changes of age:

from Masajo Masa Suzuki (1906-2003)

no escaping it ---

I must step on fallen leaves

to take this path

-

autumn for woman

having dyed my hair

I feel sad somewhat

 ~ ~

from Sogetsu-ni (Imaizumi Sogetsuni) (?-1804)

divine mystery

in these autumn leaves that fall

on stony buddhas

-

As the festival dancing dies,

the sound of the wind in the pine trees

and the insects’ voices.

~ ~

Also inspired by my dad's death this year, on July 4th.  His favorite holiday.  My mom, brother, and I came home from the hospital and set off as many fireworks from his (rather large) stash as we could.  My mom had been a little worried about keeping that many explosives in the house.  He was always a bit of a rebel, and loved to cross the Mississippi River to import illegal fireworks into Illinois.  He loved the ocean, and our last visit to the ocean in Florida was / is a treasured moment with him.  He was also a bit of a hedonist, and really did enjoy his life.  

I feel his presence in many moments.  Alive or dead?  I won't say.