SAMI FREESE PLEASE
Haley, Jessica, Liz
My cousin Jessica remarked
that at least now Grandma
has one of her kids in heaven
to have morning tea with
this is a really nice thought
even though it does not necessarily fit
what I think the afterlife might be like
with mouths to drink and kitchen tables
My cousin Liz reminded
me to be gentle and loving
with myself which is good advice
that I forget to take
two months later on Easter
when I am freaking out
because my Mum would never have served
spaghetti and meatballs for Easter Dinner
My cousin Haley called
later that day on Easter
to tell me she love love love
love love love loves me
and in the background I could hear
some of my littlest cousins
yelling about chocolate
clamoring for more
(This is where there is a lesson
about the continuity of youth and family
and the communion of saints
and the forgiveness of sins
and twenty years ago Liz was my age
and grieving her lost but living family
and I was the little cousin
clamoring in the background
and the resurrection of the body
and the life everlasting
but maybe I just miss going to church
and maybe I wish Jessica was right)