Malka

The hole in my heart
Which opened at your passing
Is festering still.
Your kindness and love
Which no suffering removed
Cannot be replaced.
One day you hugged me
And you whispered "I love you"
For the final time.
Next time you were gone
Saw me but didn't know me
I went home and cried.
I cried for my dreams
Daydream where I was still small
And you still were there.
Even in your nineties
You talked with five year old me
As we ate cookies.
We played on the swings
We ate ice cream at Toby's house
And we picked flowers.
I went to see you
But you looked past me and just
Babbled on in Polish.

Last year you passed on
You're in a better place, I know
But I still cry.
My sibling don't know
What you were like---but I do
So I sigh, cry and
Remember.