You Can’t Turn a Dead Man Down
Sarah Colby
I will dress you
in your favorite hat, and the boots
I never liked—scuffed
beyond polishing, worn-down heels—
invite your sister to sing Amazing Grace
though she can’t carry a tune in a bucket,
ask your brothers to carry the casket—
would they could lift grief
from my shoulders as easily—
chisel For God and Country
in hollow block letters on your headstone.
All that you asked, I do.
And when the dark hours come,
I dust shelves, sort papers, clean closets
‘til exhaustion drives me to rest
I dread, the cold-sheeted bed
where memory waits,
boneless breath asking
to lie with me
in your accustomed place—
a darkling invitation
I will not refuse.
Sarah Colby is a military spouse and mother to a Navy son. Her experiences over more than 30 years motivate her desire to be a voice for the mostly untold stories of families and loved ones on the periphery of active military service. Sarah holds an MFA in Creative Writing from UNR Tahoe. Sarah lives with her husband in San Antonio, Texas, where she mentors veteran/military writing groups and teaches writing in community-based programs. Her work has appeared in several journals and publications.
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