The Morning After Sue Died

Judging from their calm repose

these roses on my deck 

have yet to learn the crushing news 

that Sue is gone.

And to my deepening dismay,
the sun shines just as bright today 

as yesterday,
not knowing, I suppose,
that Sue, our beloved Sue,
passed on last night.

And woe, these palm trees sway 

as gently as they did before,
as if nothing’s changed at all
though Sue, lovely Sue,
took her last breath that day. 

But to her friends--sisters--
(Sue made us all feel kindred), 

her sudden most hated death last night 

split our world in two: 

those kinder Yesterdays
when there was Sue 

and these harsh Todays
when there is not.


Sue died September 20, 2011


Copyright (c) 2012 Ellen McCarthy. All rights reserved.