i smile through the tears
and imagine you are both
best of friends now
in the life after this
loving mother laughing sweetly
at the half-hearted attempt
to capture an agile
and cleverly mocking bird
adored pet weaving an ebony form
among the stalks of corn
and peas in their pods
growing against the back wall
both in comforted peace
waiting to rejoin their loved ones
in the garden they share
and have been patiently tending