*

*

When she peed on the rug

though you walked her so many times

in 26-degree air

*

When you were impatient

used mean words

When you felt so sorry

for yourself

When all the asking

for help for food for attention

sucked out all you knew of God

*

Don’t erase

the holy darkness before dawn

under waning starlight

the promise of the day

resting in warm flannels

the hawk’s grace and cry

geese invisible overhead

inked permanently

on the heart