A Divine Light Has Gone Out and Other Poems

By Milton P. Ehrlich

A Divine Light Has Gone Out

But still glows, being mischievous 
as she always was, destined to be
a favorite shooting star—a genuine
work of art admired by one and all.
How comfortable we were, leaning
on each other for all those years.
I loved her more than anyone else in
the world has ever been loved before.
I pluck the strings of my lamentations
to the tune of “Row, row, row your boat—
remembering that life is but a dream.

No Picture of You

Exists capturing the visionary 
that you were, living a life as if
you were in a dream, waiting 
for the next Pogrom once seen
by your parents and older sister.
You struggled with an anxiety-
driven intelligent energy that
motivated you to be bursting
with life—all you ever wanted
was more life, and more life 
made you enigmatic in your 
quest that puzzled others who 
longed to be accepted by you.
I regret not hiring a portrait 
painter who might have been
able to capture how lovable
you appeared to be for me.

Death by Proximity

As my wife lay dying,
I grabbed her ankle
Just before she left,
and parked her spirit
underneath my skin.
Now she keeps me 
company—though
she can’t be seen, 
heard or touched.
But it’s a comfort
to know her sense
of presence is always 
with me as I count 
the long days until
I’m sure to wrap my 
arms around her again
for the remainder of eternity.

The Bond

Alone, and then not alone,
heat, and then, no heat,
here, and then, not here,
gone, and then, gone for good,
hunger, and then, waiting for food,
time, and then, no time like the present
to repair a broken heart.
I just knew my sanity would be torn asunder,
but then, found love, and more love in the universe
to fill my gaping wound.
Delighted, to be together again,
and then, deep sleep, calm and peace.

Milton P. Ehrlich Ph.D. is a 90-year-old psychologist and a veteran of the Korean War. He has published many poems in periodicals such as the London Grip, Arc Poetry Magazine, Descant Literary Magazine, Wisconsin Review, Red Wheelbarrow, Christian Science Monitor, and the New York Times.