I know it sounds childish,
but I am burning
his picture tonight.
My next door neighbor, Mary,
and her college-age daughter,
Ashley...came over to
give me some hugs,
listen to my story,
and came up with the idea
of a bonfire at 9p.m. tonight.
I said, "I only have one picture
and his toothbrush~it won't make
for a very big fire...
"That's okay," they said.
"We have a few things
of our own
we can add to it,
and to watch his face
bubble and turn to ash
in the hot fire...
It will be worth it."
Ashley went to gather driftwood.
Mary left for her yoga class,
and I went back inside just
shaking my head...I have never
done something this immature,
and I'm actually looking
forward to it...
"See you at nine," I grinned.
Misery loves company, and it
feels nice to have a little
woman-power behind me.
I'm tired of always
being the good girl,
the rational one...
It has not served me
very well in the past.
Tonight, I will be a hellion
and dance by the flames as
they scatter my past
to the Illinois wind.