Stay

Katrina Kaye

and when they
ask: were there tears?

yes, there were tears

and when they
wonder: where you angry?

no, I felt no anger
only loss, only failure

but his arms
were shaking with
so much anger

yes, there was sadness,
not exactly confessions

I didn’t want to know his
he already knew mine

denial? bargaining?
yes, those were there too

but in the end
he never asked me to stay
and I never asked him
if I could

“Stay” is previously published in Brickplight (2021).

After the Funeral

Katrina Kaye

The enormity of death can be too much
at times; the finality of it, too overwhelming,

so instead of contemplating prayers or words
of solace, the void is filed with the ordinary.

How important these sweet rituals,
these sweet, sweet rituals of routine
that once seemed so meaningless,

but now hold the only kind of salvation
that can comfort.

Tomorrow we can talk of heaven.
The day after, discuss the roles of

death and then

the philosophy of a life well lived.

At some point we can talk about
dinner plans and the obligations
of the weekend, at some point we must

be able to compose a way through all those

things left behind, but for now let there be
silence. but for now, we can remain together,

hands close, but not yet touching, learning
to form words as if for the first time.

“After the Funeral” is previously published in Amazine (2025) and the Literary Underground (2025).

Katrina Kaye

don’t we?
We have a choice in the matter.

We can allow the ordinary the gift of extra
on days when our hearts are a little lighter,

when the sun glitters in our hair
and the wind brings gifts to our doorstep.

There is a battle between belief and logic,
magic and reason, and it is up to each of us
to choose a side.

Whether it be a butterfly upon tombstone,
the shedding of a snake’s skin,

or the playful curses
that come when lead fills our veins
and fire burns through a life’s work,

magic, if we choose it, is ours.