Two poems

Some hard things happened last December

205

A baby rabbit

Standard suburban thumper

  had been struck

And its small form struggled

  tiny paws flailing

Scooting on its side toward the main road

  trying to get away from its blind-sided pain

And I thought in horror

  Oh child don’t go that way and

I hoped the woman in her car waiting

  to join traffic did not see it

I know some would have stopped

  and tried to help

But I could not

When you’ve watched a man

  drown in his own home

  go still in your own arms

  turn blue and wake up dead

You may understand

That rabbit has gone to its Maker

While I am still waiting to join traffic

  trying to get away from this blind-sided pain

10-8-22

Dom Trier Cathedral, Trier Germany

#204

Perhaps the soundless opening of the portal

  for your departure

Was the soft thing that brought me awake

You were still but not like death

  not cool

So perhaps your spirit was yet moving about

  the earthly tent packing

Your hopes your memories

  your immeasurable loving heart

Saying grateful things to your

  stubborn weary body

Lingering to be sure nothing else was needed

Perhaps you watched me caress your face

  kiss your lips, hold your comforting hand

--Oh I miss holding your hand!--

Perhaps you saw that I would be okay

  because I knew you were at last beyond

  all the pain

Perhaps you saw me keel into my grief

  before you turned

  forever forward

10-7-22

---

Here’s the link to the last issue Grateful, which I still am.

---

If you want to get this newsletter in your mailbox and you aren’t, you can sign up here!

#towardthepromise

All Bible verses are from the ESV unless otherwise noted.

© Lana Wildman. Image © Michelle Schwartz.