[Critique Group 2] Leonard's comments on Alice's sub

[tuchyner5 at aol.com]

I love this poem. 



It has a sad part 



and also a humorous one. 




 


We want prints at all meaningful  times inlife.where it is possible to acquireone. 



As though it is a part of life  that will remind us of  those significant  times., 



as though to memorialize the time  or theperson, or pet  etc.  



The poet asks why. 



They  seemto help.   



Her feet will not offer that kind of comfort, 



but her poems will. 



They are all still lives.  



She wishes she could have offered comforting words  to the grieving young man. 



Words too are a comfort.




 


Alice sub for September
 



Still Life-prints



 



poemby Alice Jane-Marie Massa



 



 



Turning away from people and pets in the dualwaiting rooms,



angling aside from the U-shaped counter opposite



from where my Leader Dog Willow and I stood,



the young man concentrated on camouflaginggrieving tears.



“Do you want a paw print?”



the receptionist routinely asked thetwenty-something



once-upon-a-recent-time pet owner.



 



Across the large reception area,



sthere was no room,



no easy opportunity



to say,



“I’m sorry for your loss.  Take care.



The paw print will help.”



 



Why do we want or need



paw prints at times of loss,



baby footprints



at times of birth,



handprints at times of wet cement?



 



Fortunately, no one will find comfort



from my big foot print.



(From the size of my feet,



I know I should have been taller.)



I also know I should have offered sympathy



to the sad young man,



so he and his loved pet are still in mythoughts.



All I can offer now



and at the time of my passing



are not my footprints,



but still poem-prints



to give comfort



to the known and unknown.



 



* * *



 



182 words



 



September 23, 2021, for Group 2 Critique Sessionon September 30, 2021, Thursday



 



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