Behind These Hills, Susan Sanders

Behind These Hills
in memory of Jessica
by Susan Sanders

Sudden shock still silently swirls
in the dead bed of pine needles,
holding what was once alive
holding the body you fought
so hard to be friends with.

Behind these hills is a peculiar
path, a secret road out of town
out of the state, off the very heart
of the earth; a road to another life
that you said you wanted and
what you took stake on
turning away from everyone

who only wanted to love you.
It is there or nothing you said
in the dreamed dark, dancing
backwards in an old house
which my sister photographed
as if after death, we might catch
a glimpse of who you had become.

:::

about this piece.
This poem is about my late daughter Jessica who took her own life at 15. It certainly has been a rough road to being somewhat sane after this happened. -Sue