mae

in dropping my shoulders
in gathering my breath
steeling myself
against the cold wind of this world

my mind presents your face
hard, quiet in warm morality
loving in its fortitude

at the sight i almost break down
but that would be opposed
to the whole notion

i think i barely know
how much of you is in me
i think it’s a lot and i thank you 
for each ounce

you haven’t been gone a decade
but you might barely recognize
our country, our race

this shit was afoot though in your last years
and you went on
driving, chatting, nurturing
attending things
the life show

into the cold wind of the world
scarved by the grace
these hard times gave you