SISTER MARY
Ellen
Waited on
And on
Bedded bodies
Imprisoned minds
Memory Care freedom
From
But not for
Where is that young woman
That pretty girl
So full of it?
The one Jeremiah and I used to love to tease
She re-emerged from time to time
When her son, Noah
Or others came to care
To brush her hair
Feed her peas, ice cream
Take in some sun, fresh air
Read her a card
Or watch with her
The Twins or Vikings on TV
On and on
Last year I was able
To witness a special emissary
New sister-in-law, Moira
Sent her bridal bouquet
And a generous piece
Of gooey wedding cake
Mary Ellen, too, could celebrate
Her brother Jim’s and Moira’s marriage
This cake was especially potent
A
real break from nutrition through a straw
It managed to creep through the bars of her cage
And triggered associations and requests
Throughout the week for real food
Sandwiches, cheeseburgers
Sweet Moira
Ultimately we could not fix Mary Ellen
We could not bring back that youthful beauty
Or perky spirit and zest for living
But as long as she remained
Hope remained
In Noah’s words
She was in a good place
Soft flannel pajamas
Comfy bed
Pain free
Hands being held
Her favorite classical music playing
But now our hopes turn
To a new Mary Ellen
Not repaired
But brand new
Cosmic, maybe
Like her mother’s shooting star
Soaring over Lake Sisseton
(Did you see that at Mother’s wake?)
Or mom’s Christmas parade
Trailing down Albion Avenue through town
Bringing news of a new spirit in the air
There will be no Christmas parade for Mary
Ellen
But I am looking for some of June’s summer magic
One of my favorites . . . fireflies
They are due to return
This year they will carry a special message to
me
Mary Ellen’s spirit continuing to rise
That spunk, that spirit cannot be buried
Watch them rise and disappear
Night after night
Year after year
On and on
She died last Saturday
Let me close with a part of the readings from
Sunday’s Lectionary
This is part of St. Paul’s second letter to the
Corinthians, chapters 4 and 5
“Even though our outer nature is wasting away,
our inner nature is being renewed day by day.
For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal
weight of glory beyond all measure, because we look not at what can be seen but
at what cannot be seen, for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be
seen is eternal.”
Amen, my sister
Amen, my friends
DRK
6/12/18
