I’ll Be Back In Five Minutes - Loukia Borrell

The priest poured oil on your coffin,

A little. Then dust. A little.

I was in high heels.

Someone said you were in Heaven.

I’ll be back in five minutes,

I whispered to your coffin.

The funeral director walked

Over with a black bag.

I knew better than

To open it in front of a crowd.

Later, I did. Laminated obituary.

Six of ’em. The guest book.

Thank you notes for the

Flowers and cards I’ll get.

And the clothes you were wearing

When you died.

Fuzzy white socks.

White long johns with blue snowflakes.

Soft, navy fleece shirt,

Long gray hairs around

The collar

I pulled out four and saved them

In an envelope.

I pressed the shirt to my face,

My breasts curved into the fabric.

Next to this, your last moments.

I’ll visit often, sit by the Crape

Myrtles. When I leave, I’ll bend

Close to the ground and say

I’ll be back in five minutes.

From time to time, when I can’t

Stand it, I will wear

The pajamas you wore.

Pretend I have a mama again.

Share the bed. Side to side.

And you will come to me in strong

Dreams, that last the night.

Bio:

Loukia Borrell is the American-born daughter of Greek-Cypriot immigrants. A native of Toledo,

Ohio, she was raised in Virginia Beach. She has a bachelor’s degree in English/journalism from

Elon University and is a former journalist. Her poetry and essays have appeared in The

Washington Post, bioStories.com, West Texas Literary Review, Blue Heron Review, The Mark

Literary Review, and elsewhere.