Easter Sestina 2008

Thursday.  Cold under his purple drape, Jesus rests.
I kneel in the stark gloom.  His body is broken and I eat.
His wine-red blood is shed for me and I drink.
Good Friday.  I’m hungry, but Jesus is not at home.
Now Larry pulls wine from crowded shelves.  “You’ll love
this white with the asparagus,” he says in answer to my question.


Everyone thinks hard before they write their questions
on scraps of paper, then we pile onto Ecktorp to rest,
while Allyson starts to cook grilled cheese.  “You’ll love
this bread,” she promises.  Finally, it’s time to eat.
I look down the table at my friends, all come home.
We raise our water glasses in a toast, and we drink.


“Let’s open one of these bottles and have a drink!”
Jeremy says, as I ask Kari questions
About Matt, and whether Portland feels like home.
We practice our conga until we collapse to rest
from our exertions.  I hope that soon we’ll eat
the cheese and olives that I love, love, love!


There’s no telling what this little girl will love.
I squeeze lemons for the cake.  “I want a drink!”
begs Sylvia, and then she wants a piece to eat.
“Do you like that?”  She is impatient with my silly questions. 
She grins impishly and nods.  “Can I have the rest?” 
She opens her mouth wide and crams the lemon home. 


Back around the table again, the Zerba home
Smells like food slowly cooked from scratch with love. 
Spinach pie, blessed tradition.  “Save the rest
for breakfast,” Summer demands.  Tobin takes a drink
and tells us how he’s learning to live the questions.
Stealthily, I get another piece of pie to eat.


A few minutes ago, I couldn’t eat
another bite.  But lemon cake finds its home
in our tummies, while we ponder a new question.
Allyson sums things up: “It’s all about love.”
I crawl around the room, pouring more drinks,
then I lean on Michael’s knees to rest.



Almost time to go home.  I will miss some of you for the rest
of the year.  Today we eat, and drink,
and ask questions, and fill our cups to overflowing with love.