Ph: Love: Aftershock Poem by Brian Johnston

For so may years I lived in fear of
losing love again,
loneliness preferable to
transient bliss, something I could count on.

Then you made me laugh, infectious
laughter, like a stoned creek's sighs.

A woman with so much sadness in her life
made me her chocolate man
found some joy in me
of all people, fragile poet that I am.

Rhythm's nourishment, manna from heaven,
rhyme, icing on the cake.

But happiness is so fragile isn't it,
expectations of loss
almost the same thing -
gypsy fortune teller views crystal ball.

Then she leaves you too, no new address,
future connection uncertain at best.

Time passes and I find myself still laughing
even after your son's death
an apparent suicide,
part of this life, but not seen as a curse.

Sad for sure, but God too, is not to blame,
all known life terminates.

And yet you and I persist, beyond reason,
our creation's big bang
mysterious too though
hardly something to hang your hat on.

And that we still feel love at all
An unexpected aftershock.