The Anointing of Karen

TRYING TO UNDERSTAND YESTERDAY, THIS MORNING

           

For Karen

Unable, even now, to see her,

Clearly, as she is,

What’s taking place

            This run           over the mountains

            To see the living elders

                        Is this not redundant?

            Repetitive? Could it be any other way?

Warren, 93,

Phyllis, 102 before Valentine’s

A birthday presence

            An anointing

                        All of what took place

Of who she is—Karen

            Like I’m getting it,

                        Glimpsing,

                                   

            Here—

In these poems

            Blessed—

Blessed by, given the all,

            All in all,

                        By them

This January Second,--

Queen, but not queen,

            Bishop, but not bishop,

                        Partner, and beyond

Her partner. Beyond

            Us now,

                        Beyond us all

                       

                        Family royalty

The one for whom we have no equivalent

The one for whom we have no language

The one from whom there is no judgment

Whose intimacy we experience

And do not know

Come to us

            In the ringing of bells.

Love, Jim

3 January 2020