Respites

I Wish You Lilies (and Love)
Ivy F. DeShield, contributing editor
ivydeshield@gmail.com

In honor of Cupid’s month, I offer you a haiku series of encouragement, peace and assurance that we all have the ability to love and to be loved. Recently, I was blessed to meet and sup with the incomparable poet, activist, and storyteller, the beloved Sonia Sanchez. I begin with her inspirational inscription to me, “My dear sister, Walk your intellect and beauty across this country...”



A grenade
safe
in her palm
I wish her
lilies
Not my enemy
no not your enemy
shall I call you friend
no
okay — sister
The peace
between us
cheaper
than tanks
guns
soldiers
Shunning impurity
embracing
reflections of light
An uncurled tongue
speaks of
harmony
mercy
truth unrivaled
Why do you feel
so vulnerable, Sister?
Love lives
Mother’s kitchen:
we break bread together
over Mars and Venus
Blue willow on linen
coffee-stained
ceramic memories
run deep
in this place
Blossoms
wisdom
I take from you
fat Buddha
smiles
in a dusty corner
Soup
philosophy
yes
but love
it is complicated
Do you see
my fire
Sister?
Grace, too
gifts
from my beloved
Where there is song
there is also
love
healing
understanding
And forgiveness
That, too
another miracle
God’s hand
in mine
I wish for
nothing
Love
The
intangible wonder
of the world
I give to you
Dear sister
arm in arm
we walk
across the miles
into
our forever
All that lays
before us
unwritten chapters
no turning back
no turning back
Writing now
filling pages
like the day
with sunshine
laughter
bread
and wine
I sound
to the world —
Love matters
and so do we.