compline

My cousin Sloane is in the hospital tonight in Houston with COVID pneumonia. Though we are cousins, we have never had the luxury of living near each other but, particularly in our adult lives, have found ways to feel like family. She sent me a text tonight to let me know she had been hospitalized and asked me to write a prayer on my blog for her and for the other people with COVID and the doctors and nurses. My best prayers are in poetry. I am grateful my words can reach across miles.

compline

the day is ending and I am out of words someone I love is spending this night in a room full of loved ones forced into isolation

and uncertainty in space shared only by masked caregivers who cannot offer smiles only a glance of compassion or an embrace of listening

the day is ending and I am remembering that I promised to send a copy of a favorite book like the one she sent last month

so when she asked for me to write a prayer I found my place once more in the heartbreak church in hopes that my words can go the distance

the day is ending and I join a chorus of voices calling out names and giving thanks for carers wondering how to keep on going

I trust it is praying to admit I don’t know how prayer works and still say please let her know she is not alone

Peace, Milton