In a vacant rose garden
my mother and I sit
on a bench
soaking the precious
October sun rays.
After some silence,
she tells me a story
About her father
who died when I was
two years old.
She tells me she’ll never
forget the time
he jumped into a pool
wearing a full Armani suit,
shoes and all,
to save her life.
I remember drowning,
watching his coins
floating up in the water,
she says.
Why did my grandfather
jump into that pool?
I ask myself this and
continue to consider the clout
of love and fear.
Mouth Thorn 