Overflow

by Laura Grace Weldon

Full names bestowed at birth are announced

as the capped and gowned cross the stage.

I'm teary for the first student,

still verklempt 390 graduates later

when the bright light I call my son

shakes the dean's hand.

In his final years my father's eyes

filled at a tender story or fond memory.

In his last minute, tears issued

a farewell he couldn't utter.

The older I get, the more my reservoir

spills over at a science journal's

wonder-dense words,

a remembered song, an Instagram photo.

Soon I'll drip

like the icons of St. Mark Coptic church.

Not miraculous tears, just the world's beauty

overflowing, like every other member

of the Sacred Order of the Lachrymose,

prepared to daub my eyes

even at a baby's

peek-a-boo in the grocery store.

Her thick fingers clutching an apple,

me pared down to the core.

* * * * *

Laura Grace Weldon has published two poetry collections, Blackbird (Grayson 2019) and Tending (Aldrich 2013). She was named Ohio Poet of the Year for 2019. Laura works as a book editor and teaches community-based writing workshops. She lives with vast optimism on a small farm where she'd get more done if she didn't spend so much time reading library books, cooking weird things, and singing to livestock. Connect with her at lauragraceweldon.com