In Memoriam

Sam's father, William Bergstrom, passed unexpectedly this past week. In remembrance, we would like to share one of William's poems.  

Ships Collide

I sat at the dining room table while

listening to music. Glanced out the window

at the houses across the street: passing cars,

kids on bikes, neighbors with their dogs

until our dog went hoarse barking. My wife went

walking with our daughter, bringing her back slowly

from the far edges of our daughter’s mind where

ships collided in port, cars crashed at intersections,

people wore masks of death. She was improving,

we said, we hoped. Went to church. Progress was like

building a skyscraper one brick at a time.

We grew old when we didn’t want to.

But we found time to laugh for we knew

humor healed better than pain.

-William Bergstrom

Portrait by Kathleen Bergstrom