#447 pinto

we return from hospitals and early loss

make sad phone calls instead of happy

tears erupt from unexpected causes

dead baby jokes, no problem

but baby carrots in the fridge, empty me

the pink book we curled up with together, two nights ago

now a black anvil cloud on the shelf above our bed

early losses make late lessons

though the bean did not break ground, we know the garden will

so we wait

exposing pain and grief by bits