my mother died when i was twenty-two

after her passing

i felt her presence keenly 

it was as if she were attached to me

a kite on a short string 

always a little above and behind   ever watchful

after two years a wind began to tug at the kite

by the third year it was gone

she was comfortable leaving   she had places to go   things to do   

and i was okay   i don't imagine

such feelings

are out of the ordinary   i was close to my mother

the connection was strong   that it lingered a while

seems psychically reasonable

~

what is less reasonable   psychically or otherwise

is this   when i was young   

six or seven   

walking home from the park   alone

it was safe and allowed

crossing a little bridge   a presence appeared 

very much like the kite i described   above and behind 

in the shape of a diamond 

golden   shimmering   luminescent   

soft-edged   not large   not small   with dimension   

it was very real   

i thought it was god 

i wonder about my kites   the first i can explain   

the second i cannot