labor day parade 2019

at first i was embarrassed by the happiness
like it was something to be ashamed of

maybe because it caught me so off guard
maybe because it happened so fast
maybe because it happened at all

but joy rose up in my body yesterday
and gave me a grand high five

and my grief just stepped aside
and let her be dead
and let them be alive

and let me be calmly aware
in the middle of it all