The Quiet Rearrangement

 

Your passing marked a silent shift,

a rearrangement of the family frame—

like furniture moved in the dark,

familiar paths now strange.

I took a role unasked for.

Nothing but echoes remain.

Your roguish howling, 

stories shared at midnight:

now just whispers in empty rooms;

absent notifications.

Each year, a twisted celebration, 

a date that cuts both ways,

carves into the past, bleeds

into the present. In your departure,

I was reborn,

an eldest sprung from sorrow.

You taught me to take no shit,

your hands steady on my shoulders.

Now I walk alone, learning 

to see without you. Aging 

into this mantle, the weight 

of my own reflection changes.

I grow into the space you fled, 

but never quite fit.

Bryant

Maudie Bryant (she/her) is a Pushcart-nominated poet, multidisciplinary artist, and educator based in Shreveport, Louisiana. As a mother and graduate of the University of Louisiana Monroe (M.A. in English), Maudie surveys the complexities of memory and identity through her work. Her writing explores the layers of human experience, uncovering the disquiet that lies just beneath the surface. Her poetry has been featured or is forthcoming in Anodyne Magazine, Susurrus, and Rathalla Review. Connect with her on Instagram at @maudiemichelle and Twitter at @MaudieVerse.

 

 

Donald Patten is an artist and cartoonist from Belfast, Maine. He creates oil paintings, illustrations, ceramics and graphic novels. His art has been exhibited in galleries throughout Maine. To view his online portfolio, visit donaldlpatten.newgrounds.com/art