IT HAPPENED IN THE KITCHEN

ON THE TENTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS,

reminded by MLK to get up high

and pray with my feet. The museum

takes me from my comfort zone,

as do you, Karen, stopping in front

of Wyeth's painting of Anna Kuerner

who looks like family in old photos.

She wanders in the kitchen

we can't quite remember.

The day opens water-colored.

If I'm not yours,

I'm nobody. The dream rocks

on rails of an old train, two elderly couples

grieve over lost children

each of them carrying redemption

for the other. All this, arriving

in fragments--and one clear

instruction. Say thanks.

Jim Bodeen

5 January 2018