Poem for Melissa Fry Beasley*

setting sun — Nena Black

remember when you were a child
afraid of the darkness
you hid yourself, pretending to be invisible
peeking glimpses of an entire world just waiting
until the dawn
when all the ghosts
disappeared in the light
but you took the sun for granted
she reached for you
with innocuous intentions
she held you tightly
with open arms
for you to come
for you to go
as it pleased you
she only wanted to please you
she only wanted to love you
to smile stars into the heavens for you
she accepted you