The day came you woke a wife and went to bed a widow, your grief a lead curtain pulling shut against the sun.

If I climb, plant flowers, will you allow the rain?

Let lonely clouds wander. Let rain come. Spring also.

Your grandchildren will bear armfuls of daffodils, laughing—

Felicia Sanzari Chernesky is a longtime editor, slowly publishing poet, and picture books author. In 2018 she moved away from the masthead to work with people who want to share their stories, ideas, and poems in print. Her poetry received a 2020 Allen Ginsberg Poetry Awards honorable mention. Her short fiction was nominated for a 2021 Pushcart and Best Microfiction. She lives with her family in Flemington, New Jersey. Find her online at feliciachernesky.com.