The year after my father died
I put togther an ofrenda
candles candies fruits
papel picado little calaveras
family photos
an offering felt deeply
at the time
but unrepeated
all these years

This evening of All Souls Day
final day of Dia de los Muertos
my son has texted that his uncle
Steve has died
on the Big Island
his longtime Hawaian home

I remember him just vaguely
tall, blond, slender
a quick mind and wit
like his older sister
still my wife when
in the eighties
we flew out
to visit him

Later Steve and his wife
Teresa sent us honey
from beehives they hid
in the Ohia forest

Pure white
the most amazing flavor
I looked forward to
the packages from Hilo
spoon it like icecream
from the plastic jug

Crimson of the Ohia blossoms
black basalt of the lava soil
pure white of the ohia honey
colors of the triple goddess
maiden mother crone
Pele has taken back the son
she lured long years ago
from Kansas
Steve Oldfather
rest in peace