Derek Mikel Shepherd, my nephew
born February 24, 1980 - August 14, 2012
I watched as his father became the priest
presiding over his son's ashes
as they were strewn across the city-light-spattered bay
guiding his life fire
into the night sky's outgoing breath
None of us wished for our
falling apart
and coming together
All of us felt inadequate to the task
of speaking his epitaph
to the broken circle
around a heart
crafted with shells on the dark sand
by his family.
~Hope Shepherd
August 27, 2012
