Sister

Looking forward to Janie's visit!

My sister

She is coming

From her tiny house

In New Mexico.

Me

I am here

Waiting

With my walker

And tongs

And more pills

Than I have ever taken.

The ankle braces

Remind me of Forrest Gump

Run, Catharine, Run.

My sister

She is coming

From her tiny house

In New Mexico.

I am waiting.

Still the door must first be opened

This means what you need it to mean. We all have doors, and we all must determine who we will open them to, much more who we will invite in for tea. 

They come up the front walk,

Wonder whether they will be welcomed

At the door,

Or even

Invited in.

Momentary visitors,

They occasion a tentative knock.

Perhaps the door will open,

This time.

Perhaps a cup of tea

Might be offered,

This time.

So many steps

So many knocks

But still

The door must first

Be opened.

Mothers' weekend in Denver

It's decided.  She will transfer to Marquette in January.  Closer but not too close.  It looks to be a good thing.

I thought to visit her

For mothers’ weekend

This winter,

Only to find her moving

Closer.

I do not know if the new place

Offers such a thing

As mothers’ weekend in February.

Winter in Milwaukee

Does not hold the same appeal

As

Winter in Denver.

Still

Still

Visits will not require

Airline tickets,

I can keep a picture

Of the Rockies

On my desk

And see her on a whim.

Discernment

Wow.   Two college visits, one day after another.  One so right, and the other signed, sealed and delivered oh so wrong.  Rarely has discernment been so easy.

How does one visit

Go oh so right, the other

Oh so very wrong?

The Visit

This is the end of a season of visits.  Today, on Epiphany, I go home after visiting my sister in Santa Fe.  I will actually retrace my flight path tonight, arrive home in the dark of night.  Even flying back the way I came, it seems another way.  We are always different after a visit, if we have been paying attention.

A courtyard sits

Outside my window,

A small tree with tiny

Nascent

Buds,

They wait in the snow.

A cup of coffee warms

My hands.

It is Epiphany

The Coming of the Kings

Soon and very soon

They

And I,

Our visit finished,

Will go home

By another way.