THE MUSEYou owe me. Pay up. According to my accounts, you have...
CASUAL FRIENDSend lies to the people listed below....
THE AWARDS COMMITTEEThis is to notify you that--but what's the use?...
THE WISEThe world could fall to pieces with no notice....
UNCLE ALA chicken is a touchy creature....
THE OTHERSHere where we live the lines are down and the surprises build into snowbanks...
DANNYDusty Clinton Township kids making paper roosters and snowball...
SAMUEL RENSBERGER I am your grandfather's grandfather and through my wakeless sleep I dream...
OLD NEIGHBOREast across low muddy fields and behind the screening trees you can see...
THE WORM COUNCILWe call your attention to worms. Though sweeping ice age disaster...
THE HERONI flew in down by the round deep pond behind your house...
WITNESSI saw the largest moon ever rise huge bright yellow, sailing where it cared to...
FOOT-WASHING
. . . having loved his own which were in the world,
he loved them unto the end.
John 13:1
Tin bowls enameled white,
warm water, two towels.
The men wore big black suits
and sat in pairs. One would kneel
and lift the other's white feet
into the bowl. Thick fingers splashing
the water. After each washing
they stood up and kissed
each other's cheeks. The old ones
cried. The boys watched.
When the bowls were taken away
the men talked in the back
just like any other day.
I never did it. They stopped
the year I was baptized
and I always wondered
just why the old men did weep?