For CB & MB

For Christine and Mama Brooks:
(April 8, 2011)

I am a sieve.
My calloused fingertips worn smooth
grapple, grasp, grab
swift and
fleeting time
and life
and is
that slip
finely through.

Could I catch
but one grain
I would raise it high.
No, I would hold it close…
and covet it.
Elbows and wrists and fingers
pulled in around
the speck cradled
within.


But time and life and is
are mercury
rolling and puddling
before dripping’
dropping
away.

You cast your line,
your pendant, out.
That symbol of Her
Whom I could not reach
For you.
(The holes too wide; she slipped right through.)
You, vigilant, launch her
on to
safer, or calmer, waters.

I failed, my silent prayerful plot,
to halt her flight
to keep her close for you
(the holes too wide; she slipped right through--)


I am but a sieve.
With calloused fingertips worn smooth
which grapple, grasp, grab
the swift and
fleeting time
and life
and is
that slipped
finely through.

And yet, with you
I find
that the gossamers
which thread my mitts
do catch
chips, splinters, glorious fragments
of diamonds once whole.

And so
I hold
two grains
And I raise these high.
No, I hold them close…
And covet them.
Elbows and wrists and fingers
Pulled in around
The specks of Her, and you, cradled
Within.

Copyright © 2011. Carrie Ellen Campbell. All Rights Reserved. http://carriellencampbell.blogspot.com. Please respect Carrie's intellectual property. Sharing blog posts is permitted, but no part of this material may be copied, downloaded, reproduced, or printed without express written consent. Contact Carrie at: carrieellencampbell@icloud.com.