Thatched and lashed with horsehair
thread, even well-built nests
have casualties, tip in a storm,
spill family overboard, and we
remain to make repairs – find reason,
where so often there is none.
If we have love, we have no choice
but to fall with them, over and over
into the void – and we do it,
not to savor grief, but to collect
what parts we can, to piece our nest
back-together again.
– for Alie and Jeff
Rocked by tragedy, we repost this poem for our community. Originally dedicated to Jeff and Alie McKee in December 2010.