Memorial Service

this weather turns against itself

thinking that spring denies its place

it returns to winter’s cold

but the sun knows better, changes

slant and pushes through  
opens to solace and warmth—

so too at yesterday’s service

for a young man whose life ended

too soon and too tragically

people spoke of his goodness,

of conversations, of his love 

for his daughter, of cooking pizza

from scratch with neighborhood children—

as each one spoke 

light was added to the darkness