thx ref - I went to the "wake" yesterday run by her two brothers. My friend, Karen, was a poet and I read one of her poems at the wake. In memory of Karen, I'll post it here:
Blood Red Nails I saw you look
At my blood red nails
And how they echo
My lips I know it is but a
Glance as we sit
Me knowing full well
This will go nowhere The ambered tones
Of your voice tunnel
Into me through me
Refracting musical time I hold your eyes
But they’re flickering low
I try my hardest
Not to look any longer The red tip of my cigarette
Slips into my espresso
I wish it could soothe the
Burning rush that I feel I walk out and away
My tears slice across
Windy night skies
Gelid stars on my cheeks Back down the halls
In my room they thaw and
Spill into the paint on my page
I tear the page into pieces But I saw you look
At my blood red nails
And how they echoed
My lips