Arizona’s Ryan Despain writes spare, striking poetry that is direct, powerful, and touching. You’ve read Living day to day,
a picture of isolation. In his latest poem, Ryan writes cleanly and
with stark emotion, eloquently expressing the solitary experience of
mourning.
Counting Toes
By Ryan Despain
everyone feels sorrow
death comes we know
family
loved ones
friends
foes
space vacant
thoughts mute
time heals pain
minds resolute
and the ones
nobody meets
no kissing heads
counting toes on feet
vacancy of a womb
once with life
no lingering of good times
only bitterness and strife
