The Bitter Fact

This morning there was a fly
in the bedroom. We never have
flies in this house.  I think it was
you trying to wake me
from my early morning sleep.

You never wanted us to sleep
late but now your grandchild makes
sure that I am awake at five
every morning.  I am becoming you,
the one thing I never wanted to be.

You lost your mother
when you were 30
and I was 20 months old.
Now you did it to me
- I am your age
and my daughter is mine.

There is never a good time to lose a parent
but I guess someone had to die yesterday
and I guess someone had to experience
this sad story and it had to be me.

The bitter fact that I will never see
you again and will never fight, argue,
laugh and cry with you is a crossroads
where I have neither the map
nor the key for when I arrive home.