Elegy

I had a dream where I brought you back to life. 
No power tools, just grief; gummy bears, my eucharist. 

I refrained from paraphrasing my sadness 
and planked on your grave. 

The clear vowels of my cry, echoing from head-
stone to headstone; the illusion of sibling 

harmony. From that cry, you rose;
I told you I was hungry. You cupped my hands 

and told me about the little girl who walks past you 
in heaven. The little girl, who talks about hopscotch 

so softly, you think she’s crushing walnuts. 

---

Mercedes Rodriguez is a poet from Los Angeles, CA. They are an MFA poetry candidate at North Carolina State University.