taken

the murder of five little girls
in amish country
today

disgusting
deranged
unfathomable

the mind almost cannot wrap itself
around the reality of it all

a one-room school house
a madman
blood
the parents refusal to board the helicopter
carrying their children

secrets
shrouded
sanctuary

real, unreal, awful

but
also this afternoon
my mom called to tell me
that my dental hygienist in arkansas
teresa
tragically died of a stroke

a wonderful woman she was
a mother
a grandmother
a hard-worker
a friend

so sad
how the longer we're here on this earth
the more that we have to let go

passed
passed
passed

with each one
a pang
a disbelieving
a maturity

and life isn't ever the same

somehow
even the routine of getting my teeth cleaned
by someone i loved so much
is over forever
for good

how, life is fleeting
how, it is all we have

please take it
take it
take it while you can