I made it out
of the room where
you lay dying out
through the house
into the yard into
the cold night air you
could no longer reach
before I breathed in
and began to cry

tears blurring the stars
above me as I looked up
and begged the sky for mercy
on all of us here below

and there
above the roof
above your room
I saw the moon floating
in a circle of light
a silver ring around
the moon you told
me once means rain
but tonight I knew
it was calling you
up into the sky
up into the silver light

the next morning
as I lifted into the sky
on heavy metal wings
I looked down and
found the mountains
of the valley that cradled you
the valley where you lay dying
and I could see all the blue above
waiting to hold you and keep you
as you’d ascend

1994