Incandescence

Photo by Vadim Sadovski on Unsplash

A Poem by Anna Eastland

-for Megan Huwa

You, my friend,

frail body still bearing

the burden of life’s brevity,

don’t flash by like a shooting star

you glow—

with the slow burn

of an ember, aware

unlike the vivacious wood

still enflamed, of your dying.

          What is the speed of mercy?

Yours is a sharp lot—

a crushing embrace, cackle

and hiss of crimson embers—

emanating luminous warmth

as you sigh into blackness.

When Anna Eastland, mom of ten, is not baking cookies for her kids, rereading favourite novels, or writing poetry in the bathroom, she leads writing circles, hosts open mic for writers, and goes out dancing with friends. Anna is the author of  babyloss poetry book unexpected blossoming: a journey of grief and hope, and a contributor to numerous anthologies. Find her on her blog at “Just East of Crazy Land: Adventures in Parenting” or @annaeastlandpoet on Instagram.