JOSEPH'S DEATH

A CEREMONY FOR REMEMBERING

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


f. a. vollmer