Mrs. Gerloff

mrs gerloff notes

Joe leaned over
kissed his mother
on the forehead.
“Good night, Mom.
See you tomorrow.”

Or maybe it was
on the cheek
in the casket where she lay
perfect peach lipstick
matched a peach print dress

The night before the funeral
the sun tanked over the river
left lacy lavender veils
stretched across the sky
the day after the clocks changed

The wake must have been
full of life the next day
at the Knights of Columbus
with the family, and the family photos
and another generation gone

© Eileen Ridge 2014