Paul scours eBay for suicide notes
of people who happily failed to follow through.
He wishes to study the notes for signs
to recognize the prelude
of either his own deathly desire
or that of a friend’s.
In his search, he turns up printed and cursive blessings
penned by a thousand different hands.
The blessings are anonymous
and there is an honesty to them that touches him.
That leads Paul to children’s crayon drawings
and memories of kindergarten—
the birthplace of abstract expressionism
and the impressionists.
copyright © 2022 Kenneth P. Gurney
Umflop 