JoJo
The nickname they gave their only child who made them proud.
She graduated college, found a job, got married, made her way.
They bought a nice 2 story with fenced in yard for her beloved
labradoodles.Her life seemed picture perfect, but divorce came,
they sold their house.She started over but something clicked
that night in January.
Coming back intoxicated by alcohol and yearning for a happier time.
She lost her way falling on the ice, her phone and keys left with the Uber.
No one heard her cries for help in the twilight hours.
Neighbors found her unconscious, frozen to death the next day
at her old address. At 32 she had so much life to live, but
Fate had other plans. I wish I heard her cries that dreadful night,
I would have welcomed my neighbor and sheltered her pain.
Her back porch light still shines through my kitchen window
haunting me with that tragic night.
9 thoughts on "JoJo"
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Gosh Linda, this is such a powerful and haunting piece.
Oh, I read about this young lady in the news. It broke my heart.
Shew, tough one. You really convey the details of this tragic scene well.
It’s easy to see why this sticks with you and you share it so well.
Heartbreaking.
Yessss: Her back porch light still shines through my kitchen window/haunting me
Thank you for writing about this tragedy, Linda. It’s a beautiful homage to the young woman and a great representation of survivor’s guilt that plagues so many great people.
I’m glad you were able to get this one written. It’s a tough one, but you did a beautiful job conveying the tragedy.
Thanks all – poetry heals us.
Starting with her childhood nickname is such a powerful and effective way to convey the preciousness of this life so painfully wasted. Good on you Linda to mourn her in this way.