sitting out back again
toasting a Padron
and sipping some Rare Breed
I also have seafood gumbo
on the stove cooking with
added Conecuh sausage
I guess it could be considered
another fancy Friday
but today doesn’t seem that joyous
no need to celebrate
just give honor and respect
we just attended my grandmother’s
funeral mass where she was remembered
tomorrow will be the graveside service
she had to be cremated
so I guess they’ll just go
through the motions as if
the body was present
the plot was more than likely
bought in advance with hopes of a
burial before a global pandemic
today I saw numerous uncles
aunts and cousins that I haven’t
seen in a long while
it was good to reconnect
some were wearing masks
most were not
I did feel a little guilty
and uneasy hugging
shaking hands
and talking face to face
but they were my family
my cousin from L.A. thought
it was a welcome relief
he said
“you can’t go anywhere without a mask”
maybe they have it right
in my ‘liberal’ ‘southern’ opinion
nonetheless
the mass was nice
I got a little emotional
when her two sons that died
got brought up during speeches
one being my dad
as usual the flies are swarming
and one is in my glass
this is $50 Rare Breed
I’ll be damned if I pour it out
Gloomy Forebodings 