The Best Person I Ever Knew

I wanted to tell you about a bear I saw

The Pleiades are coming; I was always too lazy

To look up but you always did

I’ve thrown my heart out into the air

But I can’t find you

For a while I wrapped myself

In the blanket of “he’s no longer suffering”

And then, in a film, at the edge of a lake,

People sent lit paper balloons into the sky

They were making wishes--

I cracked open

I can’t re-assemble the pieces

Of my shell

You were so good to me

You saw me

Never a mean word about anyone

Smart and stubborn,

Not really ever happy

But thrilled about

Nature’s wonders

Right before the bear appeared,

Walking upright in the yard,

Wild turkeys sprang into the sky

From their slow, gawky walking

Everything that flew was drawing you

Upwards, and you

Explained flight to me,

As if there was never anything to fear

You chased eclipses, made wine,

And fixed all our cars

You’d want me not to worry now

But you knew why I do

And that was your worry, too

That there was a wonder you would miss

And that you’d have to leave those

You loved too soon

I could say I’ll make sure to

Get out there this evening

And look up at the sky

And I probably won’t

I can barely look at the world

Or hear one of fifty tunes

They talk of signs, totems,

Cardinals visiting, but

What if there’s nothing?

…….just the missing.

Binnie Klein 2025

“Ask the Mountains” audio by Vangelis

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