Jan Haag teaches journalism and creative writing at Sacramento City College where she is the chair of the journalism department and advises student publications. She is the author of Companion Spirit, a collection of poems about her husband’s death at the age of 48, published by Amherst Writers & Artists Press. She leads writing groups in Sacramento where the topic of grief and loss often arises. Read more of her beautiful writing here.

hiya toots
its me

i come in disguise now:

that big gray cat
who showed up
on the porch

& the jehovah ladies
who come around
with their watchtower

& the fly fisherman
in yellowstone—
you watched him
cast & cast & cast
the firehole river

if youd walked
away from the river
toward the steamy
sapphire pool & called from
behind, i woulda
turned & smiled
yes i would

you & me
we got eternity now

theres only that thin
line dividing my side
from yours

& youd be surprised
how easy it is
to reach across
& find me