NANCY GUSTAFSON

Nancy Gustafson has published poetry, short stories and memoirs.  She writes to express her gratitude for her life, her family, and her faith.

WAITING

Roses from the wake bow their heads 

and rest upon slender stems.

It's time to cut and press them.

Friends say that grief abates

but never goes away. Wait,

no decisions for a year, they say.

So, I am waiting till I can touch

the shirts hanging in your closet

without the flood that fills my throat.

In church I sit where we always sat.

I feel your weathered hand on mine,

my arm aligned against your jacket sleeve.

In early morning, I light a candle 

by the crucifix, imagine you in your chair, 

sipping coffee, fingering your rosary.

Evenings I pretend we are together 

on the porch. We watch the sunset, 

colors deepening behind the pines 

and we, sipping our wine, 

reluctant to move inside 

till every bit of light is gone.

I follow you in golden light, 

watch it bleed to rose, then gray 

while I wait, wait

for the ending of this day.

Originally published in Recenter Press Poetry Journal, Issue 1 (2019), ed. Terra Oliveira, https://www.recenterpress.com/issue-one-nancy-gustafson.html.

Read more of Nancy’s work in Solum Journal Volume I and Vol. II.