after catastrophe
some say
there are no words
soul maybe we turn
Allah Lord Jesus Buddha
etcetera

time is a propellant
moves us forward
reluctantly or with fortitude
can take us back as well
maybe we find
a semblance of grace
and we survive
in silence
spoken words
or song
while memory
remains

 

Richard Eric Johnson is a graduate of Indiana University and resides in Arlington, VA.