Shadow Poem

A Piece of the Puzzle

If my mother had not been born

by my grandmother whose life was filled with chaos

from the nine children she gave birth to

and been raised by multiple families throughout her childhood

until the one day at seventeen years of age

when she moved to Alaska in desperate need

to get away from her drug corrupted “family”

and if my father had not chosen to attend

his coworker’s promotion party in 1989

where he was introduced to my mother

who was there to support her sister’s husband

and if my dad hadn’t gathered up the courage to ask her out

so that they later married in a small church in Anchorage

and if my grandfather had not encouraged my dad

to enlist at the age of eighteen

later carting us all far and beyond family

always making new friends and adapting

I would not have broken my arm in an intense

game of Capture the Flag after tripping over the sidewalk

and then I would never have quit playing softball

after being out for the season

I would not have been influenced by my middle school buddies

to partake in the world of cross-country skiing

and discover the endless possibilities of the outdoors

I would not have accomplished that national championship

and then later learn that it’s not always easy just because

you achieved it once by a landfall

I would never have met my best friend

and shared so many of life’s simple pleasures

I would not have seen the sadness of death

and puzzle why everybody was saddened to know

about a life so gloriously lived

nor would I have been able to cry

thinking about my life adventure and

being scared about not knowing where it will take me