negative space

the morning is cloudy

smells like water

and the sky is full of cranes and their cooing

song says

stay warm

move as you must

sing

I need the sky full of cranes to fill the space you are not in

I need soft steady companions

I need purpose

and as the mundane and the routines come slowly back
into focus

I realize they are the remedy

the dirty dishes are there to ground me cover my hands

in warm moving water

the laundry waits for me

in warm moving water

the bath waits for me

to come clean

come back

move as i must

stay warm

I need to fill the spaces you are not in

I need to feed the cat

I need to warm water

for a tea of roses

I need all the roses

I need my lovers soft steady hands to bring my skin back

from following you out to the negative space

that waits for us all

I gave you my softest steadiest hands
cooing to you

as you died

I caught it all in a

small cup of water

I poured it onto rosemary

this morning

beneath the cranes.

-for Agatha