such sorrow| Judy Brekke

grandma wore soft
flowered gingham dresses
covered with a cotton apron
nylons rolled to her ankles
touching muddy tennis shoes

her smooth face soft
like a newborn child
surrounded by
small curls in thinning
brown-gray hair

she paced around
the heavy oak table
tears wetting cheeks
a telephone rang
intense sobbing

wild youngest son
in his 30's
fishing in calm waters
with two sons
falls forward

aluminum boat
glistens in morning sun
drifts back to shore
bewildered sons'
eyes vacant

inner-tubing neighbor
floats to fishing boat
sons silent
father's respiration gone
shrouded in death

grandma held me close
her damp cheeks
touched mine
we rocked each other
to dispel death's grip

grandma's gingham dress
and cotton apron
comforted me
shielded me
from such sorrow