even on a project called
a “death march” there were
hidden oases of refreshment where
our laughter bubbled up abundantly
shared silliness over otherwise
unmemorable moments – Blaine
and the copier, Eli and the tree,
my pearls more fake than yours –
still funny years later when
I visited you in England
when we were young there
was so much to envy –
your pony, your ability to
drive, skills your father might
have taught you, little roughneck –
as we grew older, there
was less – failed marriages, rough
living, home in Texas, no studies,
no sophistication – haven’t seen
my cousin in so long
My dear HPs, I want
to tell you “I believe”
in the immanent divinity and
“I invoke” the four directions
and “I join” the circle
but, ashamed to say, I
backslid, closed my ears to
the ancient whisperings of my
ancestry – I don’t have your
guts, your focus, Blessed Be
may she be granted knowledge –
the knowledge of her namesake,
deep and rich roots in tradition,
its association with Imbolc,
connection with the Maiden,
its qualities of protection,
the quickening of its power,
the magick of its wands –
Thou with reverent care should’st tend her,
young holy tree there growing
neighbor, Jon Scott Drive,
Alpharetta, Georgia, bouncy hair
brown sugar eyes and a mysteriously
bouyant spirit given a troubled
husband and her little Hardee Jr.
(a handful) (Down’s Syndrome)
curious about her life preserver
waters rising ’round my own neck
later I went back to visit
and more was revealed
highest in quality of life
finest schools handsomest New
England main street best of bets –
now the town we lived
in has high self esteem
but then it seemed like
Ramapoo Road was slummin’ –
sassy streetwise neighbor girl pulled out
her eyelashes, association with her
was not comme il faut
secret of conviviality – a glass
of grappa at communal table,
Da Oscar in Milan – secret
of serenity – early morning
fishing on the lake in Maine –
secret of congeniality – catch him
offguard or away from home –
secrets of his inner thoughts
or his acumen with email –
you’ll never find them out