Despedida Quieta
after Patrick Rosal
Dear heavy heart, dear poets, dear love-
starved ones, hear this: there are ancient
ruptures you must heal. Sigh your deepest
tearful wailings. Let your cries be pure
and harsh. Raw as noise, or soft
as wordless truth. Rip
the lies inside your soul to shreds
and sew yourself back up
with your own voice.
Nap when you want.
Sit as long as it serves.
Play music as loud as you need.
O, snowflakes,
O, lurkers,
O quiet quitters,
O fearless vanguard
of the Great Resignation,
Yours are the Kingdoms of Heaven and Hell,
the Earth and all of its fullness
Your business is salvation
Your future owes you a past
As much as history
has pledged redemption
and Now is Yours
and You are Here
and We will never know the intimacy
of your impossible piece of the chaos
But know:
when struggle gives,
when walls and prisons fracture at your footsteps,
we will weep with gratitude to kiss your feet –
All of us, who promised what you gave,
your Ancestors and all your Angels dear.
