Floating Pearls (for Celia)

Vanilla beads
daintily draped
around the nape
of her neck
Hers
a love offering
given freely, generously
asking nothing in return
maybe real fake pearls
maybe fake real love
the strands of time
encircle me
round and round
enveloping me
Why didn't I cry?
Silently, I grieved
I didn't say good-bye
She lay with hands clasped
across her chest,
wearing pink
gold earrings
her burial place I don't know
I won't go
All the jewelry in the world
cannot replace her love
her floating pearls