A child is supposed to rise and bloom and fly away and become the thing you're proud of. But I didn't go that way. I didn't end up famous or wealthy just a cog in someone else's wealthy wheel-- a spinster with a dog. I didn't give you grandkids to brighten the autumn years' mists I don't help much around the house just sleep and smoke and make you lists I've never ever been for you a thing you're bragging of. But quietly, I learned from you the meaning of true love. Secretly I've learned fro...

Look what you hit what you won't babysit that tot like you thought anymore. Look what you slit thinking you could outwit any god who'd permit blood and gore. Look what you did to that brave little kid whose candle stayed lit just a bare little bit enough to emit where she had been hid and how close she was to a door

I'm so glad I have a friend who always knows the way and stays with me right to the end I'm glad you made this day. Thank you Jesus for the sun and for my feet that let me run and for the colors of the world that spin together when they're twirled thank you for things that fly,the hummingbird, the butterfly, and for the mountains reaching high and for the stars that kiss the sky for this day's supper and supply for this world we briefly occupy the hope you give me when I try the love you giv...

He hastened someone's final breath; he made somebody dead. And so, his wages must be Death. That's how it works, they said. He has killed, and so we must do to him as he did. It is only right and just. That's what they told the kid. But then, the child asked in awe, if he must die because he took a life, and you must do unto him as he does, then who must do it unto you? and who must end your days? And who must deal with all of you according to your ways? We can answer that, they said, all se...

The day was turned to midnight, and the earth unzipped by squalls; the heavens suffered tremors, and our windows turned to walls. We crowded 'round the fire, feeling smug and safe and warm. That's when our elder brother called out, "Come and see the storm." We turned him down politely, and he left to go alone, but we couldn't let him leave us on the darkest day we'd known. We begged him, "Stay"--he answered, "Come"--and one by one we came; for cold and wind and wet and roar, we left our dying...

Once an errant sun was spilling colors it could hold no longer all across the dark side of a lazy summer day- trees were gently tossing dancing winks of gold throughout their greenness; clouds used borrowed wisps of reds and oranges to disguise their gray. The sand was softly pink, the sea aflame, the moment frozen as a never-fading image in a photographic mind; promise hung so heavy in the air there was no room for prayer, and I was much too young to know that darkness followed close behind....