Reading Chuang-Tzu Poem by Charles Chaim Wax

Things
the matters in Helen’s life
never went smoothly for her
nevertheless she endured them
but finally
it must all have been
too much.
She died of a broken heart yet
rumors
circulated she had taken
her own life.
Helen’s son died of AIDS in 1984
never reaching
his 29th birthday
left instructions
as to what he wanted
after he was dead.
It must have helped him
die.
He asked for
an Orthodox Jewish Funeral
although he had never practiced
Judaism, the faith
into which he was born. He also
requested
a Memorial Service be held
100 days following
his interment.
For the first month after his death
David, his lover, and Helen
spent
many long hours
together
each needing
the other.
In the third month
David began seeing
another man.
Helen felt
that wasn’t right
that he should have been
loyal
the way she was
loyal
should have lived out
the grief
she was living out.
At the Memorial Service
I handed her a copy of
The Inner Chapters
by Chuang-Tzu.
She gently
kissed my cheek
and at night
she slept
never waking again as
Helen.