Word Has Reached Me

©2009 By Alice Walker

Word has reached me
That you are dying
You, who hid
In the closet
The morning
I was born
To witness
My birth
-Investigative Scorpio-
And did not believe in Cabbage
Or Stork.

I am far away
Not only in distance
From your bed
But
In emotion.

Calling Hospice
I hear
Your quite loud
Moans
Of
Resistance:
You do not want to go
& Even dying
You will not pretend
Otherwise.

Oprah you will miss
You have said: Your
Most
Beloved:
& All your friends
From television
Who
Kept
You
Company:
Befriending you
Through pain
&
Drama
Over
So many
Searing
&
Tumultuous
Years.

I, once so close
Have drifted.

Yesterday
My friends and I chanted
For an hour
An ancient mantra
For sending
Loved ones on their way
With kindness
&
No fear.

We lit candles
& Incense
&
In my chanting
Vision
I saw you
Seating yourself
(dressed in black: centered
and calm)
In a small boat
Ochre colored
Both
Boat
&
Sail.

Let go, let go
Into the soothing river
Channel
I said to you
& You
Looked
As though
You considered
It.

Hearing your voice
Over thousands
Of miles
No words
Only
Sounds of protest
Of struggle
Of fighting –
It is so
You.
So much
Your
Essence
I hear in
The argument
You make.

Praying, later,
I sent word
To you that both our parents
Are waiting
-All, whatever it was
That rankled –
Is now
& Forevermore
Forgiven:
Grandpa & Grandma
Are
Waiting too.

How they loved & what is more, understood you.
I wonder if or why
You fear them?

As for me,
I am
Spending the morning
Thinking of you
Feeling with you
And wishing
You
Ease
&
Peace.

Sweeping up the petals
Of flowers
That surround
My door
I see your face
All our faces
Swept away
By Life’s good
Broom
Whenever
&
Wherever
We fall.

Let go.  Off into the river
Channel.  Let go.
All is well.
The love we shared as children
Is not lost, though we have been.

Let go.
Let go.
Let go.