VIRB

Requiem

I climbed the worn stone staircase
Fear in every hesitant step
To reach the towering spires
Haunting faces staring back at me
My legs ached for a week
The sun setting over Spain well worth it

I have walked where Jesus walked
Across the Sea of Galilee
Ancient dusty roads in Corinth
Tracing cool marble with my fingertips
Water from the Dead Sea burned my lips

My sister and I found a hummingbird
His name was Juliano
Wings of jade, eyes of piercing onyx
He could not fly
Then the third day he went home
Six inches in the earth
So beautiful my sister cried

To this day I am afraid of hospitals
White walls, white sheets
I held his hand and said goodbye
Our last day together
"Watch for angels" he said
And I did

I tried to hide my fear
As we stepped on the roller coaster
I screamed as we fell
The first time I held my father's hand in years

I felt the sand between my toes
Looking upon the crystal shores
Not caring about the sun in my face
He kissed me
Everything froze

Then I flew away forever
Counting stars and city lights
The world seemed so small