papa

Papa, minus 20 years ahead
looks at me, smiles
he talks of ricestalks
and lineless streets
strange things
And he is gone.
my babies play in the grass
that grew from his ashes
and the day is bright and dreary.
minus 20 years ahead,
is dinner at Christmas,
Papa makes jokes, eats spoonfuls
of rice and sauce and mango
and the night has come.
I can't remember what is was like
20 years behind
at this time it's not so important-
-if it had ever happened.
minus 10 years ahead,
Papa hugs my babies and
leaves a kiss on their heads
as he leaves for work.
Mama packed him his favorite lunch
he'd been eating for the last fifty.
we wave goodbye
And he is gone.

Date unknown, 2003