ageless beauty in her eighties
from Holland, straight as light –
she moves naturally toward the
boundaries, those places that call out
for the simple grace of greeting –
she visits me in my hospital room, stays
quiet, contented, humming, faithful to
the flowers, fingers freshening tulips,
leaning forward to smell roses
majesty of rooms, handbags, tiny
pillboxes, cunning containers of
every size and shape – and are
they messy? no, they’re empty
or pristine, enclosing further infinite
arrangements made with wallets,
closets, cupboards, a higher order of
calendar and mind, chaos confined
to curly hair (her daughter’s
and her poodle’s (well clipped))
open mind,
loving heart,
helping hands
now snow white hair
profoundly deaf and frail
a life spent sipping from the
flaming chalice the hot fuel
of agitation for civil rights
fighting oppression
writing letters to the editor
gnarled roots still hold her close
when will white wings set her free
my cousin in Alaska wearing
winter in her hair and
mukluk boots, she visits east
sometimes to peep at leaves
and reweave frayed threads of
family’s crazyquilt – I’d like to
visit, hover with her over
time and glaciers, asking that
our cousinship be spared from
mutiny, pirates, and bad weather
“it’s a big world – someone
has to explain it” – her
explanations more like invitations,
a greeting card you always wanted
to open from her office
like home where you could
take your shoes off – merry
met at work and words
well meant – now writes songs
that explain it more sincerely
small fireflower glowing in the
center of a structure marked
by death, disease, decay – her
spirit like all great spirits
sustains, her music lifts like
all great music, resonates with
her gift, refrains that mark
with life, health, and momentary
wholeness, giving proceeds even
as so much is taken away
blond sukha, quiet joy of
endless summer romance with
a boy my dad called warped
(and he was, in the
best sense) gentle lost we
slept out in golden rooms
and silver fields, met his
hippie household down the road
he touched me in the morning,
then just walked away