At the wake of morning day
I’m guided far away
Amongst the overgrown gardens and trees
On an endless path to be

Faintest scents of herbs and tea
Scurrying friends chattering beside me
Rising sun dew brushing my fingertips
Alone along forests gaze

i wonder if you remember
the presence of me
because i’m constantly reminded
by your faded memory

it lingered in the Sunday laundry
and ghoulishly appeared in a frame
popped up on the car radio
and frightened me all the same

as i packed your things,
it was in a card for my birthday
and eerily in a box of frosted flakes
i guess i never liked them anyway

later, it would quietly permeate
a passing tv commercial for charmin
remember how we used to laugh
i have those memories every now and then

i hope where you are is better
than where we were together

i wonder if you remember
the presence of me
because i was constantly reminded
by your faded memory

it took a long time to realize
that the scars on my skin
were not scarlet letters or warning signs
but red badges of courage
i should wear with pride

Human life is so flawless, yet so formless
Bending it’s way to fit into reality
It can mold itself into
A blonde bombshell model type
Or a chunky kid who loves to play Fortnite
Your dog groomer down the street
Or the mild-mannered barista you weren’t very kind to

It can bubble and warp into
The tallest man in the world
Or a newborn baby in a crib
Your crotchety sweatered grandpa
Or billions of people on the pursuit of happiness

I wonder if the ability to morph
Is humanity’s greatest triumph;
The beautiful power
To continuously change our shape.

When God created sunflowers,
He most certainly thought of you.
Crafted from every unique yellow hue
And birthed into a world of blue

Your roots dug deep underground
And captured everyone you knew
Taller and taller, your green stalk grew
Reaching heights that were completely new

Your yellow petals soaked in the sunlight
And sparkled in your brown eyes
As the sun rose, your voice filled the skies
Creating the most beautiful sunrise

Years passed, and your roots dug deeper
And you found a companion within the field
A true love that would never yield
And a seedling yet unrevealed

God gifted us with you; the perfect sunflower
And as the sun sets, we know
You’re back where the sunflowers grow
And you run amongst thee
Your brown hair floating in the yellow sea
Forever young, wild, and free.