---

Mark A. Forrester

Diminuendo

Kenneth poses naked on the stairs, small toes gripping the bottom step, arms stretched forward. His face is raised toward our father, who steadies his camera to snap a picture.

Studying Kenneth’s photograph now, more than fifty years after it was taken, almost thirty years after his death, I find myself still reaching out toward him, each of us leaning over an uncertain edge.

autumn sky
descending
crows        rain        leaves

---

Note: The haiku “autumn sky” previously appeared in bottle rockets #29.

---

About the Author

Mark Forrester has taught English at the University of Maryland for more than 25 years. He is a high school dropout, a former chef, and a husband, father, and grandfather.