NEVER

Never

Never going to be
home - on a fifty foot
corner lot where
everyone hears
each other argue…

Never going to be
home coming queen…
or a mother of two,
or a sixteen year old –
or eighteen – or
twenty one or even forty….

Never going to be a
child - afraid of the dark,
spiders, mice, red ants…
or another game of softball –
with Mama…

Never going to be a
morning when I steal
a pressed white
shirt from brother’s closet
to wear beneath a v-neck
sweater…

Never going to be a
child of five making her
first communion, or another
ride on some strong shoulders,
or a trip to State Street with
Papa for orange pineapple
ice cream …

Never going to be a
young girl sitting side by
side near Papa, for the
Veterans Day Parade –
or tack up signs
with Papas’ picture,
his successful bid for office,
a smile ear to ear,
he wins.

Never going back.

Nancy Duci Denofio
all rights reserved