what matters

The day outside is twisted up in breezy gusts.
there is a weight on the hearts in this town
many were touched by a young man who has left us

a week or so we were bundled up
and iced over
and without power
and today it seems that we've had the wind knocked out of us

yes, his housemates--they're okay (as much as they can be)
hard for me to imagine
what the place feels like now
just monday it was brimming with music, food, and dirty dishes.

and now it lies empty, hoping only to weather the incoming storm.

i tell you not in nostalgia or with rose-colored glasses that this person
was
more alive than most of us
that this person
was inspiring to work with
that Zack was one of the most optimistic activists I've ever had the honor to know

in the last storm we were all forced to loosen our white-knuckled grip on our too-full to-do lists
and just be
warm
and
fed.

now this week, again, I wonder what all of this is about
it's hard to sit in this office and do the work to be done
hard even though I know that Zack wouldn't miss a minute of action for justice
he's stronger than I am

all I can do in this moment is pause...
and acknowledge that I was touched by the spirit of a person who has gone on

the voices I overhear from the cubicle walls chatter about impending weather
... rumors that more high winds are on their way
well, I'm not sure there is much left that hasn't been tied town

all we can do is rest in this storm's eye.