Loss
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“Am I Wise?” You Ask
"Am I wise?" you ask. If you talk too long or loudly, likely not.If you have more answers than questions, likely not.If you seek illumination from without, likely not.If you dance self-consciously and without abandon… or not at all, likely not.If you arrive… Continue reading
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I’ve Gotta Home in Gloryland
My mother(clean and uprightin a white nightgownbleached whiter by chill florescent lights)is unable to recall my name,yet suddenly belts out"I've gotta home in Glorylandthat outshines the sun…"in a voice so clear and strong,it echoes down the green corridor,through the empty cafeteria,and… Continue reading
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Take a Break
"Take a break," I suggest to God,who looks as ragged as a bitchgiving birth to her 12th litter of pups. "Have you seen my inbox?" God asks."Never been so full:demands, rants, requests for healing,so much anguish,so many crushed hearts–it's overwhelming!Where… Continue reading
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A Poem Rarely Finishes
A poem rarely finishes,because we rarely finish…or only finish once. Upon my deathmy poems will gatherand say(some with sadness,some with wonder,some with relief),"Well, that's it then.No more fiddling." They will go on with their livesin whatever state I've left them.… Continue reading
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The Day My Father Died
The day my father diedthe snowman in the yard melted–one releasing warmth,the other absorbing it. Pale blue eyes slowly clouded,gazing at a bloodless blue wall;Corona-cap eyes rested on slush,gazing at a cloudless blue sky. One lay gray against a background… Continue reading
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Declaration of Dependence
The Declaration of Independenceannounced our independencefrom oppression,not our disconnectionfrom the people of the worldor the earth and its beauty. We now needa Declaration of Dependence:we are one;our lives are forever intertwined;your pain is ours;the earth's sorrow is our sorrow. Our home… Continue reading
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Within Reach
What if the strongest desiresgiven us by Godhave been placed–purposefully–just outside our grasp? What if being humanmeans forever strivingfor the unattainable?This may bewhere compassion is born. Or is the pointto let go of the dreamand wrap ourselves fully aroundthat which… Continue reading
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You There
You, there–the one looking back from life's second half–What is it you see?What is it you know?What is it you understand? You have walked through transformational fire,and it has melted from your eyesthe clouded lensesthat keep me from seeingthe real,… Continue reading
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Balm
Our Garden of Edenis realand waits for uswithin a circleof burning fields. Reaching Paradisedemands sacrifice–a long walk through searing heat,watching our skin char and peel,smelling our blackening flesh,knowing the burn of loss. And then…the cool shade of ancient elms,the sloshing… Continue reading
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Metaphors for Departure
When my sister died,she chose to stop life support,knowing the consequences. When my father died,a heart attack damaged himbeyond choice. When my mother died,she decided, "That's it. I've had enough,"and willled herself across the border. Nancy pulled her own plug.Someone stole… Continue reading