anniversary

there is a kind of stillness
that settles
on nights such as this
a holiness enters
as the power of memory and story
transports through time and space
this day a year ago...
this hour...
this moment...
the counting down
of observance
steadily
thankfully
drawing a year of grieving to a close

the holy one
works through mary:
"let a year of grieving be a year of grieving."
the holy one
works through ashley:
all deeksha blessing and lotus flowers.
the holy one
works through skye:
"your daddy loves you."
the holy one
works through liz:
"this is christ's body broken for you."
the holy one
works through katie:
"you belong here right now"
and "rest in it. just rest."
the holy one
works through rachel:
"i can feel you breaking open."
the holy one
works through gusti:
"you are giving birth."

the holy one
works through me:
the journey of this well
which i plumb and plunge
until i know every drowning inch
until i know how to come up for air
until i know how to leave it
until i know how to return and draw upon its healing waters
until i know how to bring others

keeping watch as they
plumb and plunge

keeping watch as
the holy one
works through their
marys
ashleys
skyes
lizes
katies
rachels
gustis

keeping watch as
the holy one
works through them: