A Family Reunion Poem by RIC BASTASA

the genes stopped at us
we of the childless category
enjoying this luxury
as others come in numbers
with their new names
and members

they talk a lot
we remain silent
we party
on this family reunion
we think of the memories
of ma and pa
and when we were children

it is dark and light
surrenders and then
they turn on the light

we become shadows
and mere words
we become laughter
there are no places
for the tears

then we go home
to the places of our hearts.