One day
I wake up to the not so far off rumble of Mount Redoubt esteemed
Volcano Mother of the Land of Ten Thousand Volcanoes down
The street and the land line ringing off the hook,
Three loud br-rrrings! before I reach
Say hello! Flipping on PBS station KBBI 890 Homer,
Hear in my other ear
A Volcano Ashfall Advisory "...in effect from noon to four p.m."...
While there's a tremble in her voice, so little on the other end
Far away and saying, "Mom, there's three! Triplets!"
Hold fast there girl! "I'm so scared."
You can do this. Anchor yourself there daughter-woman!
Before the noon day sun is hidden behind gray dust
A miracle has dawned in the labyrinth of our old, deep love, that
Love that, when it chooses, comes right into the house,
Doesn't even take off its shoes. Whoosh! Pushs molten rocks up and off
Like they're marbles, shakes out the hair and flings open windows
Later, after the advisory is called off
All of my laughter comes.
I run down the bluff to the beach
Tell the sea, "Thank you ! Thank you! Thank you!
I tell the sky, "Thank you ! Thank you! Thank you!"
I kneel on the ground in ash, "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"
And then I turn in the direction of Mount Redoubt, and this is where
All of my tears come. I shout "Yes! Yes! Yes!'
And the word carries me all the way up to high tide and
The waves lapping the shore, as if to agree with me, their sounds
Say yes, as does the wind, and Mount Redoubt, and the earth making this
Huge Great Birthday Cake, Creating the Universe. I thank you.


Comments: 7
Blessings and good luck - S.
A terrific write!