Arrivals and Departures

Arrivals and Departures

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Arrivals and Departures
Arrivals and Departures
Secrets hidden from view: An exchange

Secrets hidden from view: An exchange

Grief: Part 3 of 5

Reena Kapoor's avatar
Brian Funke's avatar
Reena Kapoor
and
Brian Funke
Jan 21, 2025
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Arrivals and Departures
Arrivals and Departures
Secrets hidden from view: An exchange
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Cross-post from Arrivals and Departures
Day 3! I hope this finds you well. Enjoy the third part of our exchange on grief, another micro-essay from Reena... Brian -
Brian Funke
“Hidden parts” PC: Reena Kapoor. All Rights Reserved ©2025. Instagram: @1StarDusty

My friend and fellow poet, Brian Funke (check out his lovely Poetry & Process) and I created this short collaboration on grief. Five short posts run that in a quick series of daily micro posts. Two of Brian’s beautiful poems bookending my three micro essays.

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5

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Secrets hidden from view

(100 words)

Inside the cavern, the black steel trunks are rocks. My father’s name and address are stenciled on them. The letters glow. Signatures from my army childhood.

Prepare to move as soon as two years are up. Wipe the trunks, pack them, lock them. Paint over the old address. Stencil on a new one.

Goodbye to old friends.

Hello, new town, new school, new home!

Then… Stand at the periphery. Search for any recognition. Inhale. Dive in.

That feeling of being an outsider becomes a shadow companion. Nothing else feels that familiar again—except the love I tend and keep. And wanderlust.

-reena

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5

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Arrivals and Departures
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Secrets hidden from view: An exchange
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A guest post by
Brian Funke
A writer and poet, sharing both the process and the poem.
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© 2025 Reena Kapoor
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