Dawnell Harrison’s poem Insomnia appeared here in September 2011.
Memorial Day 2007 With My Father
By Dawnell Harrison
By Dawnell Harrison
Kept it locked up until,
Like fractured glass,
Small shards came spilling
Down my cheeks–
Dead relatives and
The story about
The cocker spaniel
That you witnessed get hit by a car
Near the cemetery,
The one your mother
Cried at every day
Because her husband, your father,
Had blown his brains out
With a large gun and not left a note,
Leaving a wake
Of sadness and anger
And part of your legacy.
We placed wild, thorny roses
By the graves of
Viola Harrison
George Harrison
Albert Harrison
Clara Harrison
Dorothy Simpson
Dutch and Grace.
Glad you have this place to…
Small shards came spilling
Down my cheeks—
I like your poem. It’s reality and touching – poignant.