[Critique Group 2] poem for September 30 critique session, 182 words

[Alice Massa]

*Still Life-prints*

poem by Alice Jane-Marie Massa

Turning away from people and pets in the dual waiting rooms,

angling aside from the U-shaped counter opposite

from where my Leader Dog Willow and I stood,

the young man concentrated on camouflaging grieving tears.

“Do you want a paw print?”

the receptionist routinely asked the twenty-something

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

Across the large reception area,

there 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 my thoughts.

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 Session on September 30, 2021, 
Thursday

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