Sierpinski Tetrahedron

An icon of Christ
Printed on cheap cardstock
Given at the funeral of
A Latin teacher
Who believed in me
The oath I swore
When I started law school
To be forthright
In word and deed
Novelty mugs
With cheerful phrases
Gifted by mom and dad
To cheer me up
A rug, blue and gray
To liven up my dorm
Now enlivening my kitchen
Two red flutes
Heart-shaped
Preparing for a holiday
Which never came
The Starry Night
A copy made
By a young boy
Who thought he could paint
An analog clock
Gilded plastic
Perched atop sit
Two little birds
Three statues
Atop the shelf
Over my desk
Of Homer, of Herodotus
Of Archimedes
Gifts from my dad
When I got my degree
A little book
Filled with photos
Of two smiling faces
And affirmations
And words of love
A bracelet
Black leather
Woven, frayed
Worn almost every day
For a year
Since she left:
Nanny’s ashes
May she know rest.

I am my father’s son
A collector, of memories embodied
In sacred bric-a-brac.

It’s been a while since I’ve written any poems. It felt good to write this; I felt alive. I’ve been feeling more alive recently; I don’t know why, but I’m grateful for it.