Why write a letter to someone who’s gone?
You have nowhere to send it.
But if you put the words on paper they weigh something
like a wholly packed suitcase
or a thing you failed to say
And afterward if you read it aloud
your voice may form a wave
Rising to push one molecule into another
Into another, enduring
until one, pulsating at the perfect frequency
pierces the veil
slips through the false fabric
continues on its journey to an inevitable,
inexplicable place
(the way an echo returns to its source)
unearths a way to the ear of the divine
where your loved one resides
So that now your whisper causes an angel to turn its head
About the author
David Nelson is the Director of Mixed Reality Research and Development at USC’s Institute for Creative Technologies. He leads research efforts on immersive user experience design and the power of storytelling to improve learning. He is an award-winning Director/Producer, working in feature films, documentaries, music videos and commercials. He is a recipient of a Hugo Award for Excellence in Television Documentary.
