Anniversary

The bitter tears are stone
but one quick breath
remembers love
and the long years you’ve lain
bride to the thunder
sister to fallen rain
who ate a bitter fruit
to dance with death.

We have no right to love
now you are dead
who could not hold you here.
Our tears
water an alien grass.
All has been said
and you have walked in silence
many years.

But April came today.
though spring comes ever
even in the empty years
since you have slept
it was in April
that you chose to sever
young love and self
and I remembered
and I wept.