he fell into my arms and said
he fell into my arms and said
Original Text
Pier Giorgio Di Cicco, "Marrying God," IV (excerpt), The Honeymoon Wilderness (Toronto: The Manfield Press, 2002): 43-44.
1he fell into my arms and said
2"sometimes god takes what we love most. he knows best".
3i agree.
4so I made up something as i buried his grandchildren.
5i said, "god wants us to love him unconditionally";
6to get too tired to be angry; to love him
8to look for messages in bottles. he hates god, but finds hope.
9you get thankful for anything
10he doesn't take: breath, sight,
11memory, until they're taken. then you're thankful
12for death.
13such gratitude, taking everything for
15even fear; you fork
16over every feeling to him.
17today i am thankful for anything,
18even the cold glance of
19those who do not love me. it's an experience.
20my novice master used to say he couldn't be
21hurt anymore. me? i collect every sight and sound i'll
22miss in my final moment.
23today i buried four children. i don't know what the weeping
24was about; i held the
25grandfather's head to my own, like a
26horrified brother faced with an
27unconditional god. it was like holding my own head.
28his brain, his love, his faith, my own -- and
29doing what we do best -- living in spite of him.
30until he opens the screen door and says, come in;
31the day of streets and leaves is over.
32lay your head to rest, and put away
33the likeness of the day.
Notes
7] niagara gorge: the deep riverbed carved by the Niagara River, including the Falls, from upper New York State to Ontario in Canada. Back to Line
14] ski-doos: a trademark name of motorized sleds, equipped with skis instead of wheels, made by Bombardier. Back to Line
Publication Start Year
2002
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire
RPO Edition
2003
Rhyme
Special Copyright
Copyright The Honeymoon Wilderness 2002 The Manfield Press