Published poem: Raining Cotton about the process of creating a memory garden for a loved one.

Raining Cotton

Tired and drenched in sweat,
The side fields mowed.
Horse pasture still needs bush hogging,
Yard needs mowing,
Paths in the woods need trimming.


I stop for a brief moment
To absorb my son’s memory garden.
Free flowing form,
Meandering around three Hawthorn trees,
White columbine, purple geraniums,
Lilies, yarrow,
All in yellow;
Red dianthus, blue sage,
And
White box daisies -
A mosaic of color.


Then the raining
Of cottonwood begins.
Delicately landing on every
leaf,
flower petal,
rock and stone.
Watching the wind carry the cotton fluffs,
Swirling about overhead.


My eyes rest upon my son’s grave stone.
The raining of cotton
Softly touches his rock
As if they were sweet kisses upon his cheek.


Feeling the presence and love of my son,
I close my eyes for one brief moment.
Grateful for this day outdoors
Because it was raining cotton
And not tears.