a gift from Gin
For over a month, fire has raged
on the otherwise bare white wall—
a single red flame like the sanctuary
light before the symbol-festooned aumbry
that heralds the sacred Presence.
All this time it glows there—
red as a heart and just as big.
It is as difficult as desirable
to fix circles in the water.
Once cast the stone
the hand has just withdrawn
and already the ripples are fading,
the circles die out away from the center.
I remember draping
bath towels
over the curtain rods.
I didn't have
faith
the venetian blinds
I was visiting with my grandmother at her apartment.
My grandmother's friend, Vivian, was also there -
visiting.
We were all watching the news.