Grandfather

worked the cane fields of Honokaa

when his head exploded,

the world clouded, his body

weightless where it went limp–

when the doctor suggested stroke,

aphasia turned his tongue to stone.

Scattered family members gathered,

shattered by the news–

the geometry of pieces mirrored

indifferent truths, hope

hung by shards.

God didn’t wait for their apologies

–the cold already found his bones.