I Will Remember You Always

I will remember you always,
rock-hard and iron-straight,
wooden-spoon-stern, and
flawlessly forgiving.

I will remember you always,
your features engraved
upon the marble of my mind,
larger than life.

I will remember you always,
as so much more than just a word,
a title or a name, you will forever be
my humble beginning.

I will remember you always,
statuesque and beautiful, with rare
moments of weakness, demonstrative
that is all right to cry.

and

I will remember you always,
as tears wash through the valleys
of my cracked, desert cheeks…

reduced
to stone.