the three
filled a balloon with
helium and sadness
and words watermarked
by tears
for a dear mother
the airborne
elegy
took to the sky
blurred by tears
faded
and was lost to sight
and home went
the three
looking for answers
in the
silences of loss and love
the youngest
hoped she would like
the balloon he picked
and he knew she'd love
his picture of the cat.
the eldest
smiled at her brothers
and hugged their heads
imagining a heavenly winged
deliverer and celestial watchdogs.
the middle
child
wondered about heights
how high their message would go
and what would happen
when it got there
willing a
voiceless reply
out of the clouds.