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A CEREMONY FOR REMEMBERING
PROLOGUE
LET US SUMMON TO MIND OUR DEAD
BE THEY PARENTS CHILDREN LOVED ONES OR
DREAMS
BUT WHEN WE ARE DONE
LET US GENTLY CLOSE THE DOOR
AND LET THEM SLEEP
EMMAUS
THERE WAS SOMETHING ABOUT HIS EYES
LIKE A SOLDIER OFF TO WAR
SAYING GOODBYE TO LOVED ONES
OR A SAILOR FOR A LONG LONG TRIP
WE'D WALKED THAT ROAD MANY TIMES
MY FRIEND AND I
IT HAD BECOME A BIT OF A TASK
WITH NOTHING NEW
TO BE DONE WITH SWIFTLY
AND DONE WITH
WITH PLEASURE AT EITHER END
BUT NOTHING IN THE JOURNEY
UNTIL THE STRANGER CAME TO WALK WITH US
THIS STRANGER
WITH RELUCTANT EYES
HE'D SIGHT A TREE AND CALL IT OUT BY NAME
A FLOWER
BIRD
OR SOME CREEPING THING
THE WAY THE SUN TOOK A CLOUD
AND LIT IT UP WITHIN
OR CAST LONG SHADOWS
LIKE THE SHADOWS
THAT SAT UPON OUR HEARTS
THAT DAY
WHY ARE YOU SO SAD
HE ASKED
AFTER A WHILE
WE'D LET HIM TALK FIRST
OUT OF
COURTESY
HE SEEMED TO NEED TO TALK
WHY ARE YOU SO SAD
AND SO TO THIS MAN
WHO SEEMED SO EAGER FOR LIVING THINGS
WE TOLD HIM OF A DEATH
OF OUR FRIEND JESUS
WHO HAD DIED
AND TO USE HIS IMAGERY
PLUCKED LIKE A FLOWER
THAT WAS THROWN AWAY
PICKED WITHOUT PURPOSE
OF A MAN
WHO WHEN HE SPOKE
BOTH TESTED US AND JOYED US
OF THIS JOURNEY
THAT WE TOOK
WHICH WAS DOUBLY LONG
FOR WE CARRIED SADNESS TO EMMAUS
THERE WOULD BE NO PLEASURE THERE
THE BODY WAS GONE
OH THE WOMEN HYSTERICAL
HAD SAID HE WAS RISEN
BUT THE BODY WAS GONE
WHY SHOULD HE DIE
WE BELIEVED HIM CHOSEN
OF GOD
WHY SHOULD HE DIE
PERHAPS BECAUSE WE WERE TOO NUMB TO SPEAK
HE TOOK OVER THE CONVERSATION
WHEN DID YOU LEARN TO LOVE YOUR FATHER HE
SAID
WHEN I BECAME THE AGE HE WAS
WHEN I DISLIKED HIM
IT SOMEHOW MADE HIM DIFFERENT THEN
AND UNDERSTANDABLE
SO JESUS CAME HE SAID
TO BE THAT PARENT
TO BE THE ONE WHO WENT BEFORE
TO BE THE ONE WHO LIVED AND DIED
AND TO BE TRULY RISEN
AS THE WOMEN SAID
TO BE THE PARENT
WHO HAD GONE BEFORE
SO YOU COULD LEARN
TO LOVE HIM AS YOU GREW
AND THROUGH HIM
THE FATHER TOO
PERHAPS IT WAS THE CADENCE OF HIS VOICE
OR THE WORDS OR THE MAN HIMSELF
BUT WE FELT CALM
WE INVITED HIM TO SUP WITH US
IN OUR GARDEN IN THE EVENING COOL
FOR THE DAY HAD RUN AWAY
AND WE KNEW HIM IN THE BREAKING BREAD
AND THE WINE
THAT TOOK THE JOURNEY'S DUST AWAY
THE
SHAWL
THE SHAWL IS
FINISHED
I HAVE WOVEN
THE WOOL WITH TEARS
I HAVE HURT MY
FINGERS
AND SUCKED
SORROW
BUT I AM DONE
WITH WEEPING NOW
IT WAS FITTING
HE SHOULD DIE IN FALL
OR EARLY
WINTER REALLY
WHEN GRAYNESS
COMES UPON THE LAND
WOULD I CALL
HIM BACK
TO RE-SUFFER
ALL HIS PAINS
TO ELIMINATE
MY OWN
DID I NOT LOVE
HIM TO THE POINT I COULD LET HIM GO
IF GOING WERE
THE BETTER CHOICE
BUT I AM DONE
WITH WEEPING
THE SHAWL IS
FINISHED
I SHALL FIND
OTHER THINGS TO DO
BRING OUT YOUR DEAD
BRING OUT YOUR DEAD THE WATCHMAN CRIED
IN THE CITY WHERE HE WAS RIDING
ON A CART PILED HIGH WITH LAST YEARS
DREAMS
AND LONG REMEMBERED ANGERS
BRING OUT YOUR DEAD
THIS CITY THAT WAS ONCE SO FAIR
WHOSE WALLS WERE WHITE AND RIVERS CLEAR
WHERE MEN WALKED OUT ALONE AND UNAFRAID
HAS BECOME A STINK HOUSE OF REMEMBERED
PAIN
AND PENT UP SORROW
BRING OUT YOUR DEAD
LET WINDOWS ONCE MORE OPEN TO THE BREEZE
AND PIPERS PLAY NO MORE THE FUNERAL MARCH BUT
GAY
BRING OUT YOUR DEAD
THAT MEN MAY SAY ON PASSING BY
A FAIR CITY
AND HEAR
THE LAUGHTER RINGING IN THE AIR
BRING OUT YOUR DEAD
STARS
HE LIKED TO
WATCH THE STARS
THEIR SENSE OF
ORDER AND HIS FILIAL PRIDE
BOTH GAVE HIM
WARMTH
HE LIKED THE
LEGENDS THAT MEN TOLD
ABOUT THESE
LANTERNS IN THE SKY
HE LIKED THE
WAY THEY LED A SHIP
OR CARAVAN TO
FIND A HOME
HE SOMETIMES
THOUGHT HE HEARD THE SOUND OF SILVER BELLS
WHEN THE WIND
WAS IN THE TREES
AND NIGHT
CLOUDS CAME SCUDDING ACROSS THE MOON
WHEN WILD DOGS
BARKED
AND SHEEP
BELLS RANG CLEARLY IN THE DARK
HE THOUGHT HE
HEARD THE STARS SING
PERHAPS THAT'S
WHY HIS FATHER
MADE THE SKY
GO DARK
BEFORE HE
DIED
THE OLD HOUSE
WE FOUND IT DEEP IN THE WOODS
FAR FROM THE PATH
THE RUINS OF THE HOUSE
AND THE OLD STONE FENCE
YOU COULD TELL THE GARDEN
IN THE DIFFERENCE IN TREES
AND BUSHES GONE WILD
THE MOUNTAINEER'S CABIN
HARD BY A STREAM
YOU COULD MARK OFF HIS FIELDS
BY FOLLOWING HIS FENCE
EACH STONE HAND CARRIED TO BUILD IT
AS HE FOUND THEM
ON A SLOOP SO STEEP
YOU COULD PICTURE THEIR SAYING
IF YOU DON'T HOLD ONTO THE PLOW
YOU'LL FALL OUT OF THE FIELD
YOU WONDER WHEN HE BUILT THE HOUSE AND FENCE AND
PLOWED
DID HE THINK IT WOULD COME TO THIS
OR DID HE SEE A LINE OF SONS COMING AFTER
LOVING THE LAND AS HE DID
IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER I SUPPOSE
WHAT COUNTS IS
HE HAD A DREAM
AND TRIED TO MAKE IT REAL
ABSALOM
DAVID'S SON
HE COULD
REMEMBER HIS SWINGING ON TREES
WATCHING HIM
NOW
HANGING FROM
THE TREE BY HIS HAIR
HE WISHED HIS
FACE WAS LESS CONTORTED
HIS FACE LINES
LAUGHTER CAUSED
WHEN THEY TOLD
HIM HOW HE DIED
HOW HE SWUNG
FROM THE TREE BY HIS HAIR
THE SOLDIERS
SPEARS IMPALING
HE ONLY
ASKED
DID HE CALL MY
NAME
I WOULD NOT
WANT HIM DEAD IN ANGER
THIS CHILD OF
MINE
WHO TREE
CLIMBED OFTEN IN HIS YOUTH
WHO TREE
CLIMBED OFTEN AND WOULD CALL
FIND ME IF YOU
CAN
WHAT HAPPENED
AS HE GREW THAT I LOST MY CHILD
WHAT HAPPENED
AS WE GREW THAT I LOST MY CHILD
WHEN DID HE
CLIMB DOWN UNHEEDED
AND WENT HIS
WAY
DID HE TIRE OF
HIDE AND SEEK
WHEN I WOULD
NOT PLAY
WHERE DID I
LOSE MY SON
WHEN DID THE
SILENCE GO TO ANGER
AND THE NEED
TO HURT
SO MANY CALLS
UPON ME
SO MANY PLACES
TO BE
OH
ABSALOM
ABSALOM
TREE
CLIMBER
MY
CHILD
STRANGE FRUIT
ON THE TREE
STIFF IN DEATH
AS YOU WERE IN
LIFE
I KISS YOUR
STILL UNFEELING LIPS
WOULD TO GOD I
HAD DIED
WOULD TO GOD I
HAD DIED
THAN BE HERE
TO WATCH
THE SUN GO
DOWN
ON YOUR
ANGER
AND YOUR
DEATH
METAL FENCE
METAL FENCE WITH GATE DOOR OPEN
STANDING IN A FIELD BEFORE A HOUSE LONG
GONE
THE GARDEN OVERGROWN
AND GONE TO SEED IN WINTER
WHAT POSSESSED ME I DO NOT KNOW
TO LEAVE THE ROAD
AND GO AND CLOSE THE GATE
WHOSE GHOSTS DID I WANT TO RESTRAIN
THEIRS OR MINE
WHAT VISIONS OF PARENTHOOD
HOPES
DREAMS
STILL DWELL IN THE GARDEN
STAY CLOSED GATE
I HAVE GHOSTS ENOUGH
OF MY OWN TO KEEP
JOSEPH'S
DEATH
IT WAS SUMMER
AND THE WINDOWS WERE OPEN
THROUGH THEM
HE COULD HEAR THE SOUND OF HOUSEWORK BEING DONE
THE SNATCH OF
A SONG THE RUNNING OF WATER
THE SOUND OF A
BROOM
IT WAS HOT BUT
HE COULDN'T FEEL IT
HIS SHAWL WAS
ABOUT HIS SHOULDERS
BUT HIS COLD
WASN'T IN THE WEATHER
THE SOUND OF
THE BROOM RAN ALL HIS DAYS TOGETHER
SO THAT HE
THOUGHT HIMSELF ONCE MORE YOUNG
AND COMING TO
CALL FLOWERS FRESHLY PICKED
UPON HIS YOUNG
SWEET LOVE
HIS
MARY
BUT THEN HIS
MEMORY DARKENED
AND HIS BLOOD
IN SPITE OF YEARS RAN HOT
ANGER POUNDED
IN HIS BRAIN
I AM WITH
CHILD
NO A THOUSAND
RAVENS CRIED
NO A THOUSAND
CROWS REPLIED
PANDEMONIUM OF
THUNDER
LIGHTNING
FLASH
AND DRIVING
RAIN
NO HE CRIED TO
NO ONE LISTENING
RACING FROM
THE SUMMER STORM
RACING LOSING
AND WAS CAUGHT
DRENCHED
THE RAIN
RUNNING DOWN HIS FACE MIXING WITH HIS TEARS
NO HE
WHISPERED TO THE EARTH
FACE PRESSED
DOWN IN SOGGY GRASS
WHY HE SOBBED
OH GOD WHY..
BUT NO ANSWER
CAME THEN SOMETHING CAME
THE MEMORY OF
HER WORDS
REMEMBER I
LOVE YOU
HOW QUICK THE
STORM
HOW SUDDEN THE
SUN'S RETURN
SO THAT THE
OLD MAN FELT ONCE MORE ITS HEAT
HE STRUGGLED
TO FORM THE WORDS
FROM IN THE
HOUSE THE QUESTION
DID YOU
CALL
I LOVE
YOU
DID YOU
CALL
I LOVE
YOU
DID YOU
CALL
THEN JOSEPH
DIED
ON THE
DEATH OF A FATHER OF MY
FRIEND
I MOURN
YOU
THOUGH I NEVER
KNEW YOU
I NEVER BOUGHT
YOU A BEER
LAUGHED AT
YOUR JOKES
OR SHARED YOUR
VIEWS
YET I MOURN
YOU STILL
FOR YOUR DEATH
IS A LOSS TO ONE I LOVE
AND I AM
DIMINISHED BY IT
AND SO I MOURN
YOU
BUT
MORE
FOR YOU SHAPED
AND BROUGHT INTO BEING
MY
FRIEND
SOMEWHERE IN
YOU THEN WAS A GIFT OF BEAUTY
AND THAT MUCH
BEAUTY IS NOW GONE
AND I MOURN
YOU
NOW YOU SLEEP
OUT IN THE RAIN
ALL YOUR
ELEMENTS GOING BACK TO GOD
NOW THE SENSE
OF LOSS GIVES MY FRIEND PAIN
BUT IN THE
SPRING
WHEN CROCUS
BUDS PEEK THROUGH THE SNOW
COME
BACK
WITH MEMORIES
WARM
ALL HARSH
THOUGHTS FORGOTTEN
COME BACK WITH
MEMORIES OF LAUGHTER
AND MAKE MY
HEART-FRIEND
SMILE
THE ULTIMATE IS SILENCE
I THINK PERHAPS THE ULTIMATE IS SILENCE
WHEN ALL LOVE COMES HOME TO GOD TO REST
WHEN WORDS
WHICH DO NOT TELL THE HEART
ARE OVER
I THINK PERHAPS WE SHALL REVERT TO THE
BEGINNING
AND WITH A SIGH BREATHE OUT OUR SOULS TO
REST
WHEN SPIRIT OF GOD AND LOVE ARE REUNITED
AND SAFELY DWELL FOREVER IN GOD'S BREAST
I Must Remember (THANKSGIVING)
I MUST REMEMBER TO BE GRATEFUL
I AM
BUT OFTEN WHEN THE SUN IS SHINING
IT’S HARD TO REMEMBER RAIN
I MUST REMEMBER TO BE THANKFUL
I WAS AT DEATH’S DOOR
I HEARD THE SIREN CALL
COME
END PAIN
CONFUSION
LIMITED MOBILITY
HALTING SPEECH
CONFUSION
AND I WAS TEMPTED
MOROSE
I WANTED OUT
I WAS SEVERELY TEMPTED
I'VE ALWAYS FELT
I WAS ONE OF GOD’S FAVORITES
AND I WAS DEEPLY ASHAMED
AND PUT GOD FAR AWAY
BUT HE WOULDN'T GO
SEE LOVE
HE SAID
SEE ME
IN YOUR WIFE
CHILDREN
CHILDREN’S CHILDREN
FRIENDS
PEOPLE WHO OPEN DOORS
AND OFFER SEATS
SEE GOD IN GOODNESS AROUND YOU
ALL OF THEM SINGING LIVE
THERE WOULD BE A HOLE IN OUR HEART
IF YOU WERE GONE
LIVE
MY WIFE’S CARE
LAUGHTER OF CHILDREN
PRAYER OF FRIENDS
AND STRANGERS
CALLED ME BACK FROM THE DOOR
LIKE COMING UP FROM A DEEP PLACE
LIKE COMING UP FROM WATER
LIKE COMING OUT OF THE FONT
AFTER IMMERSION
LIVE
CHILD OF GOD
LIVE
AND THEN I TOLD A JOKE
GOOD FOR ME
NOT SO GOOD FOR EVERYONE ELSE
AND KNEW I WAS ON THE MEND
I MUST REMEMBER TO BE GRATEFUL
FOR THE LOVE ALL AROUND ME
AND GOD’S HAND
ALWAYS
ON MY SHOULDER
.
MADMAN OF GERASENES(Luke 8:26-39)
THE LAST THING THAT I REMEMBER
WAS SEEING MY FATHER SLAIN
THEN MY MOTHER AND SISTER
RAPED AND SLAIN
THE SOLDIERS COMING AFTER ME
FRIGHTENED
I RAN AWAY INTO OBLIVION
THE NEXT THING THAT I REMEMBER
IS TO SEE PIGS
HURLING THEMSELVES
OFF A CLIFF
INTO THE SEA
MUCH OF WHAT HAPPENED TO ME
BETWEEN THESE POINTS
I HAVE BEEN TOLD
THEY TOLD ME I DWELT AMONG THE DEAD
THAT I ATE THE SYMBOLIC FOOD
LEFT FOR THE DEAD
OCCASIONALLY SOMEONE’S CHARITY
THAT I WAS CHAINED TO A ROCK
WHICH CHAIN I WOULD OFTEN BREAK
I REMEMBER FEELINGS OF GREAT RAGE
I REMEMBER
FEELING LIKE A ROBOT
RESPONDING TO VOICES
NOT MY OWN
I REMEMBER
STARING AT WALLS
REMEMBERING THEIR DEATHS
FEELING ANGER AND HOLLOWNESS
THEN THE STRANGER CAME
SPOKE TO THE VOICES WITHIN ME
WHAT IS YOUR NAME HE ASKED
MOB THEY REPLIED
LEAVE HIM
DO NOT SEND US TO THE PIT
SEND US TO THE PIGS
HE DID
AND THEY SWAN DIVED OFF THE CLIFF
I OFTEN WONDER
WHY HE CROSSED THE SEA TO SAVE ONE MAN
BECAUSE THE VILLAGERS ASKED HIM TO LEAVE
HE WAS BAD FOR BUSINESS
I WOULD GO WITH HIM
HE SAID STAY
TELL YOUR STORY
BE A VOICE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS
MAKE STRAIGHT THE WAY OF THE LORD
IF THEY WON’T BELIEVE MY WORDS
TELL THEM WHAT I HAVE DONE
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