Percy Speaks While I am Doing Taxes

First of all, I do not want to be doing this.


Second of all, Percy does not want me
to be doing this.
Hanging over my desk like a besieged person
with a dull pencil and innumerable lists of numbers.

Outside the water is blue, the sky is clear,
the tide rising.

Percy, I say, this has to be done. This is essential.
I'll be finished eventually.

Keep me in your thoughts, he replies.
Just because I can't count to ten doesn't mean
I don't remember yesterday, or anticipate today.

I give you one more hour, then we step out
into the beautiful, money-deaf gift of the world
and run.

**Mary Oliver

Kindling

By Susan Osborn

If I am deaf and cannot hear
And if I am blind and cannot see
If I am mute and cannot speak
If all of my senses are numb and dull
Will I be saved?

Is the soul impoverished in any way?
Or does the utter silence ring
with the Truth?
Does Love care
what the words are
that lead us home?

God retreats

In the beginning
it was sudden --
the world

that wasn't
yet
all at once

emerging
out of formless void --
space

of the infinite
broken
into pieces -- God

retreating
to make way
for perfect human

imperfection...

**Rachel Tzvia Back