flowers

gather every flower

everywhere you walk

fill your hands with flowers

bring them here and

gather them together

make them a mountain

make them an offering

make them a mountain of offerings

fool

And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.” Luke 22: 14-20

what do you do when you observe Lent

on April Fool’s day? today the scripture reading

is from Luke 22 - the last supper.

i want to write that as a question: the last supper?

because it isn’t “the last supper.” evidently,

there is a wedding being planned,

though i admit my expectations are low.

I’ll just keep practicing the rituals,

the body and the blood, the bread and the wine,

my community gathers near and far,

we share these words for courage, for hope;

as declaration of our foolishness.

the movements of this body and that body.

we just keep celebrating, observing.

(some more than others)

this is a preparation, the discipline

of waiting. i suppose

some think me a fool,

and i suppose i am foolish.

so let me be king for a day. it is only a story.

tell me someone has died; then that they live.

share with me stories full of heartbreak and joy,

that turn things upside-down.

                                             let me be your fool.

a poem for derek walcott

 

'Heart, you are in my heart as the bird rises,

heart, you are in my heart while the sun sleeps,

heart, you lie still in me as the dew is,

you weep within me, as the rain weeps.'

-- Adam’s Song, Derek Walcott

i still can’t read that without tears.

all my heroes are dying.

i know someone else said that.

it’s still true. they’re dying.

it is not a metaphor,

but cold, hard fact.

like a body

and its longing.

God weeps as i weep.

us both saddened

by his passing.

will we ever see his like again?

i know someone else said that.

it’s an honest question.

*

i will miss your strength,

the way your words were centered

in experience, edging the epic,

fishing for meaning.

i will miss the sails reflecting

the light, measuring the horizon.

catching the wave, always moving.

the way you set the hook.

april is national poetry month!

in two weeks, it will be national poetry month, and once again i am planning to write a poem per day for the duration of the month as part of #NaPoWriMo.

in both canada and the united states, this is an opportunity to celebrate poetry, and the myriad ways in which it enriches our lives and speaks to the human experience.

both the league of canadian poets and the academy of american poets have some ideas for how to celebrate. the canadian contingent even has a theme - time.

i would love it if you would join me on this adventure, whether as a writer or a reader (or both).

#NaHaiWriMo 2017 – day twentyeight

there’s nothing left
one need only be thankful 
anticipate hope