Sunny Side Up

for Londa

 

A bowl and four eggs lay on the counter in front of me.

A heart, heavy with despair, resides inside.

Individual tears, confined to their corners,

wait patiently for a gentle nudge

from the next in line,

freeing them from their hiding place,

exposing them to the world.

 

Crack

 

Remembering the past

the mischievous moments, special memories

crazy stunts and

inside jokes.

 

Crack

 

Questioning, why her?

Someone so young,

so giving,

so full of life,

with so much to look forward to...

graduations, weddings, grandbabies

retirement.

 

Crack

 

Treasuring the years we shared

as we watched our children grow

from innocent Kindergarteners

to sassy college sophomores.

The trials and tribulations,

laughter and tears. 

 

Crack

 

Picturing her smile

her sarcastic sense of humor

the way her eyes sparkled when she laughed

and how she rocked the hillbilly look

when she wore her Bubba teeth.

 

My being aches as I realize I will never again

experience the smile

I’d taken for granted for so long.

 

I look down into the bowl

and notice that the yolks have collaborated to form

a nose, two eyes and

a sideways grin.

 

The restrained tears, finally free,

slide down my cheek

followed by others

like raindrops on a windshield

and I suddenly realize

that her beautiful smile isn’t gone

but forever with me...

Sunny-side up.