second cemetery spring

i remember last spring
a birthday candle appeared at a neighboring grave–
a big blue block number “3”

and i remember thinking, 3 whole years,
that mom has survived 3 whole years
of living life like this.

this afternoon i went to see Tinsley
and a “4” had been placed at that same neighboring grave.

and i thought, 4 whole years,
that mom has survived 4 whole years
of living life like this.

i looked around at the brownish grass
trying to recover from winter
and realize this second cemetery spring
feels just about like the first cemetery spring.

even though so much has changed
so much will always

remain the same.