Different Parents

N. Jeanne Burns

I called Jane, my sister
with different parents, Wednesday night

You and yours okay,
not on the fallen bridge?

Yes, we're fine
she said but left out
her fallen mother

And I called my others
my mother and in-laws and brother
not knowing Jane's mother died

Not on the bridge
in the hospital
lung cancer
no one on the shore
to pull her out

I didn't tell Jane that my life's
disconnected not by the fallen
bridge but by my
new class glasses
that I still look for futile rescue

Instead we discussed the bridge
collective grief
made a list of those we know
are safe
hoping secretly we won't go missing

And we sang, me and my sister with different parents,
so we don't have to grieve alone

Every little river must flow down to the sea
I don't want you to weep after me.