june watches ballgames in heaven

you used to watch cubs games
from your living room.
wearing your pinstriped jersey
with the big red c for chicago.
you and your trusty pup, sosa,
would cheer for every run.
   then you fell sick.
you’d spend your time sitting
at the kitchen table instead.
filling out coloring books,
playing gin rummy.
you forgot my name.
you became a stranger.
   after you left, i remember
seeing you in that casket.
the light was from a movie.
it hit your face like a starlette.
like peggy lee, like doris day.
and i said goodbye.
   for the past fifteen years,
i’ve been calling collect.
i never really got through.
but on those rare nights,
i saw you, smiling.
you knew my name again.

Nicholas Barnes earned a Bachelor of Arts in English at Southern Oregon University. He is currently working as an editor in Portland, and enjoys music, museums, movie theaters, and rain. His least favorite season is summer. His favorite soda is RC Cola.