JOHN OLIVER SIMON:
ADELLE 2
THE VIEWING
Adelle in her coffin with copper bracelet
that will be found encircling her ulna
by raccoon archaelogists way downstream
who may be able to reconstruct her face
with its smart mouth now pulled quiet forever
but will never awaken its quick laughter
Jack’s in endless freefall of bottomless grief
no hug from compadres can hope to console
raccoons will little note nor long remember
his grief, their lifetime love, the poetry scene
around the San Francisco Bay Area
at the turn of our second millenium
but let them say this: she lies there dead who was
in life a faithful and practical artist.
7/18/16
for Adelle Foley (1940-2016)
JACK FOLEY’S RESPONSE, WRITING BETWEEN THE LINES
THE VIEWING
Adelle in her coffin with copper bracelet
I saw her
that will be found encircling her ulna
(Leo, lioness:
by raccoon archaelogists way downstream
August 15th)
who may be able to reconstruct her face
as she moved towards
with its smart mouth now pulled quiet forever
the flames
but will never awaken its quick laughter
that will forever
Jack’s in endless freefall of bottomless grief
transform her.
no hug from compadres can hope to console
I had kissed
raccoons will little note nor long remember
my fingers
his grief, their lifetime love, the poetry scene
and touched
around the San Francisco Bay Area
her lips
at the turn of our second millennium
my love
but let them say this: she lies there dead who was
of over fifty
in life a faithful and practical artist.
years