Stella Silvae

Even today. 
Even now. 
As your body 
follows your being 
into decay 
and you are absent, 
properly, 
for the first time.

There is a chill 
in the air. 
There is numbness. 
As we learn that there 
will be no grave 
or joyful service 
for the ones 
you leave behind. 

Because you, 
having lost your 
faith and feelings 
to a lie you bought, 
from a war that 
you never fought in, 
never could 
tolerate ours. 

Setting this tone, then, 
for our grief, 
your life was 
captured 
by its last breath, 
taken just outside 
of the family home, 
on Father’s Day.