AFTER HE GOT OFF THE THRESHING FLOOR

 

AFTER HE GOT OFF THE THRESHING FLOOR

 

Karen and I walk down

to Jeanne's house to see

the peace pole she planted

after Larry died. The spotted

horse, beautiful by the fence.

I took Karen's picture

by the pole trying

to count the number

of times James Baldwin

says the word love

in his 842 pages of essays

in the Library of America

edition. At last count

it was far more

than the number of times

I've heard love said

in the Lutheran Church

during the past ten years.

I don't keep score

and I don't lose track.

 

Jim Bodeen

22 August 2020