Leaving Orbit
For Vybhav Gopisetty and Judy Stanley who left us much too soon You passed by this planet sooner than expected, and were gone, before we could fathom the mark your stardust left upon us. Your brilliant flashes still remain on the retina, where your lives left their imprint. Your hearts and minds serve as the molds from which our own may break free, renewed by our lives’ proximity. Reflection blesses our lives, with the smiles and shine, reminding us to thank you, when next we meet. __ Jason de Koff is an associate professor of agronomy and soil science at Tennessee State University. He lives in Nashville, TN with his wife, Jaclyn, and his two daughters, Tegan and Maizie. He has published in a number of scientific journals, and has over 50 poems published or forthcoming in literary journals this year. Cover image: Wallpaperaccess
