Leaves

I slump down on the concrete bench,
Iced wind and wet droplets cling to my hair,
And I notice the yellow leaves,
Dancing.

And I fall away from the sounds
Of the shoppers,
Of the traffic,
Of my life.
Behind my lids,
I can almost see an old friend.

He never stood.
But sat contently,
Filled with the joyous labors,
Of three devoted kin.

He wore old bluejeans,
And a flannel button-down shirt,
And never failed to smile.
He knew he was loved.

We really brought him to life,
Bursting with red and orange leaves.
The painted smile on his face,
He played quite a vital role.

But Gomer is gone.
He left a long time ago.
And he took something of mine with him.

Leaves.
Leaves.
Leaves.
Why did you leave?

I open my eyes,
To see that I’m running late for work,
And that I still have two papers left to write,
And that once upon a time,
Was a long time ago,
And I shuffle off to work,
Through the leaves.

Leaves.
Leaves.
Leaves.
Why did you have to leave?

Poem Response to Dad's Poem

I barely remember life without loss,
When clouds weren't just clouds,
but a fish or a cow,
Blind now, I march to make it across.

I do not ever reminisce,
these days are gone,
tears all
They fill up my cardiac abyss.