Readings

Original poems

The Other Side of the Table

I still turn toward
the other side of the table,
ready with a thought,
a question,
a piece of ordinary news.

Love had become a habit
in the best sense:
a thousand small returns
to the same person.

Now memory answers
where your voice once did.

Shared Life

We built a life
out of errands and plans,
arguments and laughter,
keys left in familiar places,
and mornings no one thought
to call important.

I know now
how much a shared life
lives in the ordinary.

Collection lens

What this poem collection is trying to hold

This collection centers shared household life, partnership, private language and the daily reflex of turning toward one person. That focus is deliberate: relationship-specific verse should do more than replace “mother” with “father” or “dog” with “cat.” The imagery, emotional distance and details should change with the relationship itself.

Best suited to

a spouse’s funeral reading, anniversary remembrance or private memorial note.

Watch for

Making the marriage sound universally perfect or revealing conflicts that living family did not consent to share.

Personalization test

Before using a poem publicly, identify one image or line that matches the person you are remembering. If none of the imagery fits, choose another poem rather than forcing the relationship label to do all the work.

Use it well

Prepare this collection for its actual setting

  • Read it aloud before choosing it; spoken rhythm matters at a service.
  • For private use, adapt a line with a name, place, habit, or detail that belongs to the person.
  • If a venue, celebrant, publication, or livestream needs text in advance, send the final version early.
  • Do not attach a famous author’s name to an anonymous or rewritten poem.