directly home after
the graveside
service of her
husband’s funeral
she pummelled
all 9 peace lilies
down the bank
into the
Flint River
they remind me of death
hurling the plants
with emphasis on
words as she flung
the polished green
leaves over the edge
me, cheering her
for their unspent
lives unlike that one
on our front porch
a funeral leftover
that will not die
yellow-brown curled
leaf fingers grasping
for life in all its
wanting to be
me, planning a trip
to the river bank
with a peace lily
Common Threads 
Such strong emotion in this poem that I am assuming is true. I am trying hard to keep two peace lilies alive and wonder why now. I hadn’t thought about it, but one was given to me by my mother-in-law and I wonder if it was left from a funeral. If so, it’s nearly 20 years old. Do they live that long?
I feel this grief in my whole body.
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You must have a really green thumb! My husband has kept this one alive for 3 years. 20 years is a long time!
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I have never liked peace lillies and have felt badly about it because they represent peace but really they represent rest in peace. Like forever. And now I can truly understand throwing them over the river bank to their demise. Powerful images, Kim, that will last forever.
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Oh, Kim, you are on fire this year. This is so powerful. You have me pondering the her and the me of this poem. This: “grasping
for life in all its
wanting to be” Wow!
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Thank you, Denise! I appreciate your kind words, my friend! I’m grateful to write with you – Stafford, Open Writes, and Slice of Life. WE, not me – YOU AND I – are on fire – – these challenges do so much to keep the writing embers burning. Thanks for reading!
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