Kathy’s Room

just an ordinary room
with ordinary things
a small bed with ruffled pillows
borders of pink lace
a garden of pale flowers
pressed onto a faded quilt
washed once too often
a doll sitting upon a dresser
face ghostly white
eyes staring with empty expression
upon the wall a blue eyed jesus
hanging on a small plastic cross
above a calender dated june 1984
on a small table in the corner
a black and white photograph
of a young soldier in uniform
with the words scribbled across
the bottom
to my daughter kathy,
with all my love forever, dad
just an ordinary room
with ordinary things
that once felt the presence of an extra
ordinary little girl who i never knew
until the little  girl was  no more