I Saw You Saw

For Amy

I found myself inside a poem.
Having thrown out my red tulips years ago,
I had almost forgotten
That younger self in a pale blue johnny, fresh with abandonment
Skirting the potted plants, coy with the guy in detox
Though the sight of his un-apostrophed contractions made me wince.

When I got back my clothes and went into the dim-lit day room,
I found a man named Jesus singing to the cross.
Again and again he fingered the strings.
I sat on the table and sang though he never noticed
Or once looked up.

I’d sworn it to the sunflowers standing tall in a Missouri alley.
I will never, I said, deduct from my confession
The thrilling wonder at, the surge of need for
that makes the edges of the bluet distinct and clean

And now I find narrow file cabinets like long halls
A passage with no final purpose
Echoing, sterile, unadorned
So like the hospital walls,
that first entombed me.

How could I be back here?
I’d come so far.
Among the refuse the weeds will rise.
These still are my flowers.
They will transport me.



By Monika Riney
November 3, 2009

Cate's Birthday

My girl is nineteen. When did this happen? She's driving a car, going to work and breaking up with a boyfriend. Yet for the most part her requests are simple and easily met. We went to Petco to buy her a blue Beta fish, to Shaws for a carrot cake, ice cream and a dozen roses. We're going to get cozy in flannel jammies to watch a movie she selected. I am going to try hard not to fall asleep.

I taught NAPPI today and planted garlic.

Summer

rain

Baby Coming Soon

We clipped Hermione this weekend, and now her bulging belly seems huge. Set her up in the maternity suite with plenty of soft bedding. Must track down a baby monitor, and get the birth kit ready. I believe she'll give birth before the week is out.

Drove to Denmark Sunday to have Ally Baba sheared at the SheepFest. Farm cap on the truck, two hours of winding roads, Cate in the truck bed with Lemony Snicket and a Chai latte keeping Ally calm. Stopped in at JimBob's Variety, and learned the Sheep Fest had taken place the day before.

Drove down the hill to look at the lonely spot, and found Linda Whiting sweeping up. She took a look at Ally, was impressed by her immense obesity and dense fleece. I asked if she knew who might have a Romney ram for mating. Well, I followed her to Julie Libby's house up the road and bought Jeremiah on the spot for $150. He's a handsome, docile ram and ought to get Ally with a couple lambs when he gets his fall tryst.