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
FRANK A VOLLMER
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