Yesterday, for Jack Layton (1950-2011) by Waldemar Ens

yesterday
a carved wooden cane called cancer
              came out of nowhere and
                            whacked us in the solar plexus

but when Jack carried it he used it like a
sceptre
magically inspiring the different strands to tie together

reaching out and hooking us in
poking prodding the soft underside of
apathy

pointing out a better way down
a clearer road

helping us walk that road
even with our broken hips

yesterday
a gentle wooden cane
             fell out of nowhere
                            at our feet

waiting for us to pick it up