since i lacked the strength to scatter you at sea
as you had asked of me
because i failed to say goodbye
as normal children should
and did not water
the flowers you adored
because in panic i discarded
all your clothes
and old shoes too
which anyway had not gone far
also your ashtray
because i dared not touch you
(even at the end)
and didn’t light a candle
right away
and didn’t say the prayer
as is written
because i only saved
your key
and each day
i expect you
at the door
Image: Close up of the key with house keychain by Nenad Stojkovic, licensed under CC 2.0.
Patricia Nikolova has published five volumes of poetry and she has been awarded the 1999 “Dora Gabe” National Book Award for female poetry, as well as many other distinctions, nominations and prizes. Her work has appeared in the journals Mediterranean Poetry, Verbal Art, Critical Stages, Contemporary, La Tortuga, Erato, Noima, Hemus, and many others including the world anthology in support of Ukraine UKRAINE DANS NOS COEURS (Paris, 2023). Her poems have been translated in all European languages and also in Armenian, Hebrew and Ladino.
Latest posts by Patricia Nikolova (see all)
- Mother’s Ashes - November 24, 2023