GRIEF Poem: I Had a Dream That My Dead Dad Gave Me a Seashell, by Taylor Dorothy

a seashell found sunk,
in sand like crumbs in cushions.
once it was a home.

my home felt yellow,
before my dad died in there;
alone, unjustly.

it was yellow from
laughter as our oxygen.
now it’s so quiet.

it’d be nice to say
it’s yellow for a new child
now, but it’s mine still.

alive in my head —
my dad, alone in his bed;
my seashell found dead.

i know he’s with me.
shells in sand can nest again,
but in crimson red;

red like cardinals.
he sends me signs, still i miss
my yellow, my shell.

so, i’ll scream my grief.
i will not pretend it ends.
i’ll make us a home

that’s orange.

By taylor dorothy