The Funeral

The Funeral

I had a dream about Judy

You've never met her before

and it has been so long

I don't remember her being so pale

I could see the pulsing blue vein

running from her hairline down to her brow

and her frailness struck me as odd

A giggle almost escaped from deep within my throat

which I swallowed quickly

She would sit at the piano,

and I recall her hands, the fingers long,

her vibrato full and strong

She had always been plump,

and I don't believe my memory failed me

I wanted to play that piano

I begged for lessons,

but it was for the best

I took dance instead

I've never known my left hand from my right anyway

and although I have a good ear

I could never learn to read the notes

Sometimes I would spend the night

You were not allowed into her kitchen between meals

To me it was a strange rule

and the thought of not being able to eat

made me all the hungrier

My mother would cut her hair at our house

while we all splashed in the backyard pool

It is always summertime when I think of my childhood

Did I mention that her daughter was my best friend?

I digress...

In my dream we walk together into the church

dipping our fingers into the holy water

and making the sign of the cross

The water drips slowly from my fingers

and I quickly awaken

wiping the sweat from my forehead

Angela Minard 2012©