CHRISTMAS WEEK - Wednesday Before...

Montreal Snow

Yeah, there's some

not lots

and it's cold

I forgot how cold

but I'm here this week

oblivious to the world

recharging batteries

fighting an awful flu

I just saw some old family movies

for the first time

capsule moments

from the 60s

the only footage of my late mother

briefly there

smiling at the camera

young and beautiful

and then gone

cut to some airplane flying over

our backyard

and footage of my grandfather

dapper in black

smoking a cigarette

all of them at the grave

of my beloved uncle

who died too young

and who I will now visit tomorrow

he's not too far from

his sister

my mother

peace at last

from a new world

that promised so much

rewarded so little

Ralph Alfonso

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THE DUST OF PLEASANT MEMORIES

You stop to sit

on a child's swing

and

Here is winter everywhere

We walk through the dust

of pleasant memories

of carousels at the Fair

and smells and laughter

and everyone there

children running

after a summer sun

and baskets of flowers

and foods for everyone

and dancers step to

the flutes and the drums

and mandolins

and bangles and things

and tho they are gone

we shall always be there

full of hope

full of light

full of love

everywhere

ralph alfonso

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ashes to ashes

Montreal

Cote des Neiges cemetery

all quiet

and white

everyone asleep

cradled in God's arms

forever

there but for the grace of

nothing is fair

really

i think

eternity ends here

ralph alfonso

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