Blessed are They That Mourn
For Katherine
God-forsaken on Maui
What comfort is there?
Give place to her salty grief.
Let nothing touch her.
Bring cowrie shells from the reef.
Scatter plumeria down.
Keep her from rain.
May doves, ah, by sevens
Swing in the air
Over the mounded earth
Where she lies huddled.
Though losing has never been easy
She will turn to our tokens in time
And come home.