Lost and Found

Our introduction to forgetfulness comes early–
with lost sweaters, notes from school, dollar bills–
then little goodbyes morph into dire disappearances:
Santa, the Easter Bunny, a grandparent,
waist-length hair, girlfriends, blind trust in power.
Later, a few things stay with us as we discover
the unmatched joys of having, even holding.
We relax into believing the good things will last.

Now, stunned out of shared naïve complacency
by the anguish of our mounting national losses,
our fear of losing things has returned, made worse
by recent personal bereavements: mentors, heroes,
lovers, friends, songwriters, peacemakers, poets.
Emptied of optimism, we feel sorrow fill the hollowness.

Oh, what would our beloved deceased have us do?
What would their last and lasting lesson be?
Yes, let’s do that!
So that we are not lost.

in appreciation and memory of Mary Oliver, Dolly Parton, Wendell Berry,
Gloria Steinem, Annie Dillard, and my friend Missy Todd Patterson
by Anne McCrady, 2026

NEWSLINKS: Pulitzer, AP News, NY Times, PBS, Washington Post

AUDIOLINK: SoundCloud