highlights

(for Walter)

a stark photo of an almost
unrecognizable man lying
and dying in a hospital bed
turned out to be Walter who
once delivered delightfully
irreverent edgy jokes and
local gossip in his gruff voice
as our laughter met in the air
and small pieces of my hair slid
to the floor down the stiff plastic
cape I and all the dark skinned
ladies sitting in chairs nearby wore
his eyes and mine sparkled as they
found each other in the giant mirror
my heart recognized the tenderness
of this throwback man who brought
to mind the image of powerful men
from my childhood who bowed their
heads obediently to their mothers

Cinse Bonino
2023