After Yehuda Amichai
If there are grave stones, may there be
shy stones, kind stones, mad stones,
scared stones, thoughtful stones,
and may we have a choice;
and if there are hummingbirds, may there be
humming walks and humming naps,
humming minutes between
the minutes that hum in anger,
a humming table and chair by the fire,
and a warm and humming towel to wrap us in.
If there are thunder clouds, may there be
whisper clouds and echo clouds,
clouds the rustling of linens,
giggling clouds scampering,
and clouds to call a child home;
if there are heavy sighs, may there be
sighs that float or sink or rise,
and sighs that drift away,
and sighs to take from us our sighs;
and may the weeping willow,
the weeping redbud,
and the weeping cherry
weave of their weeping an evening gown;
and when we come to the end of days,
may we come to a beginning;
and if there is a time keeper,
may there be a time giver,
and if there is a guard house,
may the house be safe unguarded,
and if there is an ocean view, may we see
what the ocean sees,
the little boats of our bodies
nudged into the tide.