This Lemon Bar Of Sunlight

this lemon bar of sunlight cutting across my strawberry rug

in the present day as if to say something concise some distinct irrevocable message

relayed what is it

in perfect diagonal displayed

among the woven strawberry vines

like some kind of annunciation in this summertime, mislaid

so that I must pause and look at it in wonder

and ask of whoever may be listening

is this possible

can light from a long ago day visit us again

I swear that same ray fell upon a childhood rug

with roses woven in the same oval way

while I spoke with my Grandmother after school one day

as we sipped on Cokes and she told me again

not in so many words as in the trilling of the bird

outside her window

how she couldnt understand she would never understand

the death of her young husband at 29.

her eyes grieving in that familiar way.

seem still so brimmed with unshed tears

to me, today.

mary angela douglas 7 august 2021

1Mary Angela Douglas