A couple of years ago I made the close acquaintance of a beautiful redhead, tall as me, gorgeous blue eyes and a yearning to move on to better things in life than she had at that time. Her name was Alyssa, pronounced "uh-lee-shuh" and she inspired the poem I wrote back in 2007 and have posted below.

Alyssa moved to Cincinnati, went to culinary school and dropped from my sight.

I learned this morning that she was found dead in her apartment two days ago of "natural" causes, whatever that means these days.


Here is an excerpt from her obituary that I thought was really great:

"...She was a student at the Culinary Institute at the University of Cincinnati, where she was studying Management and Pastry Chef. She enjoyed running circles in her head, literature, sarcasm, duct tape, debauchery, chaos, peaceful meditation, finding the center of a Tootsie Roll tootsie pop, rainbows, handmade jewelry, mermaids, psychology, interesting people, good conversations, the outdoors, baking, baking, dreaming a little dream, wishing on stars, culture, drinks that have added antioxidants, mysteries, retinal disparity, music and arts, festivals, flip flops, sundresses, counting the freckles on her shoulder, and much more. ..."

Rest in peace, Alyssa. You were too young to die. Here is the poem I wrote for you.


PORPHYRY

Her hair was porphyry
Red mass, fine crystals,
Feldspar and entangled
Bits of crystalline fire.

My eyes were captured
When we first met and
My senses never quit the
Fire around her face.

When another day arrived
I wrote her name on my desk
But in a month or two
I put a red rock in its place.


©2007 Jon L. Adams