You who passed down
smoothed surfaces
slipped naked and
sleep-creased into
merciless loss.

Started trying
harder, praying
more. This was your
punishment come
for you at last.

You forgot to
keep smiling. Stopped
laughing. Edges
jutted; threads snapped.
Effort failed you.

Prayers, too. And yet —
surrender felt
sometimes like a
long-awaited
benediction.