Happy Birthday Nathalie

I’m 29 now
and yet 27 years with you
wasn’t enough.
If I’m lucky, I’ll get 50 more?

So, until then,
I pray the next 50 years
will move as quickly
as my first 27.

—

You’re in the wind,
you’re in the scent I catch in the air when I come home,
You’re in every konpa song.
You’re in Tati Kettly’s voice.
You’re in Uncle Ruddy’s smile.
You’re in every royal blue accent.
You’re in all of my hopes.
You’re in every hug I miss
and every whisper I almost hear.
Your body left, but not you.
You’ve never left me alone,
and so, I am never lonely. 

—

Tell Vava and Tonton Yves
and Pido
I say hello.
I don’t know how to fear death
with all of you waiting for me.
I know you’re waiting for me.

50 more years...
I’ll wait for you, too.

A tout ke'm.

_______

Thank you for reading in advance! These are very rough versions of pieces I'm not sure I'll continue to edit. The first part was just some wandering thoughts at first in my notes app and the second and third are from a letter I left for my grams at the cemetery this weekend. She would have been 93 last Sunday.

I'd appreciate thoughts or reactions! Not really sure if I will workshop this further to be honest. I'm mostly just grateful to have platform to share her with the world or at least this community.

Feedback links:

https://www.reddit.com/r/OCPoetry/comments/1rvx6w4/comment/oayom0v/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

https://www.reddit.com/r/OCPoetry/comments/1rw56kg/comment/oayr5gv/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button