Sunday, September 7, 2014

THERE’S  GOT  TO  BE 
A BETTER  WAY 



INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this 23rd Sunday In Ordinary Time, A,  is, “There’s Got To Be A Better Way.”

How many times in life have we said that, “There’s got to be a better way.”

A spouse – a son or a daughter – a brother or a sister – has fallen again.

We’ve tried anger – we’ve tried silence – we’ve tried showing them the door or not showing up at their door – or what have you – and we scratch our head in frustration saying,  “There’s got to be a better way.”

TODAY’S READINGS

Today’s readings trigger that thought.

In the first reading from Ezekiel 33: 7-9 we hear about the way of warning.

We’re all called to watch – to be watchmen and watchwomen – and warn those we are with who are destructive of self and/or others. Ezekiel tells us to say, “If you continue down this path, you shall surely die.”

Ezekiel is warning us: we are our brother’s keeper; we are responsible for each other – even if the other refuses to listen to us.

Today’s second reading from Romans 13: 8-10 says we only owe one thing to one another: to love our neighbor as ourselves. That’s the only thing really that we ought to be debt to each other.

Today’s gospel from Matthew 18: 15-20 gives us a way to deal with a brother or a sister who is doing dumb. Quietly go to him or her - one to one – and tell him or her their fault. If they listen, great. If they refuse to listen, get one or two others and go to that person and challenge them to wake up. If that doesn’t work, go to the community – and a bunch of you go to him or her – and tell him or her what you see is happening and how much you are worried about them.  Obviously we need to speak with kindness.

If that doesn’t work, well, then write them off. Tough love is a better way – as long as we love the dummy and hope and pray that they wake up.

ALCOHOLISM

A Redemptorist priest once told me - one to one – that years ago he had been drinking too much and he was losing it. People had dropped hints. People had confronted him. People ignored him. Well, one day he went in for morning prayer in the house chapel where they were living. Surprise! His local community were there – as well as his whole family and other Redemptorists.  They confronted him – big time. It was an intervention. Without him knowing it, they planned it. They rehearsed it. Good thing he was awake and showed up that morning. They all told him what they were seeing – big time – that they loved him – and that he needed help.

Then the rector – the priest in charge of that community said to him, “I’m going with you at 12 Noon today to Detroit. You’re going to a rehab place. I got the tickets. I got you signed in. Now let’s pack and get to the airport.”

And the guy told me, “Looking back at that moment, that intervention, that group of people saved my life. I had had my last drink and drunk the night before.”

They had come up with a better way.

Sometimes that works; sometimes it doesn’t.

FATHER ALEC REID

About three months ago - one Sunday morning – after the 10:30  Mass  - a group of 4 people came up and introduced themselves. They told me they were from Ireland – visiting some relatives here in the United States.

They gave me a black and white picture of their brother and cousin – an Irish Redemptorist with the name of Father Alec Reid. He had died in Ireland last November 22, 2013. I had heard a couple of wonderful things about Father Alec – but had never met him.



They gave me this booklet – with articles about him. And now I know better about someone who knew there had to be a better way of coming up with peace in Northern Ireland: Father Alec Reid.

I was looking for a Sunday – that had readings – that  would be perfect to use Father Alec Reid as an example.

His life tells me about someone who came up with a better way to be a peacemaker.

As many of you know, there was for centuries long fighting going on in Ireland between the Catholics and the Protestants – with those who wanted to be connected with England and those who wanted to be connected to the Republic of Ireland. There was the Easter Rising in 1916 – which eventually lead to the Treaty of 1922 – with the division of the Counties 26 in the South, 6 in the North – mostly a Catholic-Protestant majority solution.

In the north in the last century, the 1900’s the troubles between Protestants and Catholics in the north was called “The Troubles.”

As I read this booklet that these family members of Father Alec Reid gave me – as I read about the long difficult process that led up to the Good Friday peace accord – of 1998 – I thought it was a good model to look at – when it comes to the Troubles we have in family, our country and our world – and it’s similar desires for peace.

I noticed in what I was reading about Father Alec Reid – that Gandhi’s method of non-violence is another way – and each of us has to make a decision on whether it’s a better way.

In a talk entitled, “Lessons on Peace Making” – I read that Gandhi had 2 fundamental principles for peace making. First: “Be the change you want to see in the world.”  I’ve seen that on banners. It’s difficult – but I sense and I believe it is a better way.  We’ve all heard, “Don’t just talk the talk; walk the walk.” And the second principle is the one I’m harping on today: “There is always another and a better way.”

Father Alec was born down in Tipperary but was stationed up in Clonnard, in Belfast, in a Redemptorist monastery that just happened to be on the border of the Catholic and Protestant neighborhoods.

Catholics and Protestants hid together  in the lower crypt of the monastery at Clonard during the Belfast bombing German “Blitz” in 1942. After the war the Clonard Community offered a series of lectures every year  - starting in 1948. It was more aimed at Protestants becoming Catholics. After Vatican II which started in the early 1960’s, it was more ecumenical and more equal.

In Derry, Ireland in 1968 “The Troubles” – the riots – the Catholic-Protestant fighting erupted. Shootings, killings, round ups and imprisonment became the scene in Derry and Belfast and other parts of Northern Ireland.

Father Alec Reid began visiting the prisons – saying Mass on Sunday mornings – spending Sunday afternoons calling up family members with news and notes from their sons and husbands. He found himself in the middle of the hunger strikes of 1981.

Father Alec’s health broke down in the midst of all this and was told to go to Rome – to get him out of Clonard – and the troubles – to get his health back. On May 13, 1981 – a Redemptorist gave him a ticket to a great spot in St. Peter’s Square to be at the Pope’s regular audience – and it was the moment that Pope John Paul II was shot four times by Mehmet Ali Agca.

That summer of 1981 Father Alec was feeling better and headed back to Belfast with the goal to “take the gun out of Irish politics.”

And that became very significant. In the literature I read that Father Reid and a Rev. Harold Good – a Methodist minister – were the ones who were the witnesses that the guns were to be buried – secretly – in the dark,- especially because the IRA had in their constitution to hold onto the guns and never let anyone see you giving them up.

At a funeral for three IRA Activists who had been killed in Gibraltar – which Father Reid helped negotiate that they be buried in Belfast near Clonard - all hell broke lose when a Loyalist gunman shot and killed 3 mourners. 

At the funeral of these 3 mourners on Saturday of that week – two British Soldiers accidentally found themselves in the funeral procession. All hell broke loose again and this time the 2 soldiers were shot and killed.  There is a famous iconic black and white photo of Father Al anointing one of these two young soldiers as he was dying.[Cf. top picture on this piece.]


And significantly, in his pocket was a secret letter, and even more significantly it got covered in blood. It was a letter between from Sinn Fein – the IRA in Northern Ireland - to John Hume  the Protestant Leader of the Social Democratic and Labour party. Peace – a better plan than killing each other was on the way.

Let me speed this up – but the peace process is rarely sped up. But here is what I learned about the Peace Process in Northern Ireland – that might serve as a model for our world and for our families.

One to one – letter by letter – small secret meeting after small secret meeting - step by step – missteps included – peace can be brought about.

Back stage is more important than front stage. Father Alec and Rev. Good and other players in the game met in all kinds of secret places – with the key players. A first step was to find out who they were.

Endurance – and not giving up.

Avoid the press – but press on.

Listen, listen, listen to everyone's grievances and gripes – get them on the table.

Pray - and keep praying to the Holy Spirit.

Compromise, compromise, give in, give in – but don’t give up. That certainly helps make marriages work.

In the Irish peace process there was the question of justice when it came to prisoners. Some went to other prisons. Some were released – even though they were in on killings and bombings.

Get out on the table mistakes and learnings - and the "if we had to to do this again step."  For example, Alec said we certainly didn't get the voices of women into the process enough. 

CONCLUSION

The title of my homily is, “There’s Got To Be A Better Way.”

Jesus’ way of turning the other cheek, going the extra mile, forgiving others because they don’t know what they are doing, forgiving 70 times 7 times, dropping the rocks, is his way.

Gandhi and Martin Luther King and Rev. Harold Good and Father Alec Reid tried the way of non-violence – and through it was a better way – even though the first two of those 4 names were shot – Gandhi and King.

I challenge myself and all of us to pray about all of us – not just by myself – and to talk to not just myself about all of this – but with 2 or 3 others. This is what Jesus is suggesting at the end of today’s gospel.

And if you do this, watch. You’ll experience exactly what Jesus said – once more his closing words: “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”




TICK TOCK,  TICK TOCK

Poem for Today - Sunday September 7, 2014



TIME PASSES

Once I was a boy and I sat in a meadow with flowers in it;
          I sat for hours in it,
Enjoying the sun and the brave birds in the heaven,
         When I was approximately seven.

Later I was a long and learned stripling,
         Reading Kipling,
And nothing I heard but the factory hooters blowing,
         While time was remorselessly flowing.

The hours they fly me by with astonishing celerity;
         I have not the temerity
To remember the hours that have gone by, unnumbered,
        While often I slumbered.

I have sat in the pubs and seen the rings of froth on the glasses,
         And thought to myself, Time passes.
They brought me a pint of mild, but I asked for bitter,
         Thinking it fitter.

For life, as it lumbers by, unwieldily hastening,
          Is a matter most chastening;
Too seldom have we laughed in the morning with the larks on the mountain,
          Or leaned on the fountain

Watching the waves and the neat-clad ducks in a huddle,
          Or, kneeling beside a puddle,
Beheld the leather-legged insects jumping in jubilation
          Or pausing in sudden indignation;

It is a strange error that keeps us such things ignoring,
          In studies insensately snoring,
While the hands of the rude, insatiate clock
          Go tick, tock, tick, tock.



© R. P. Lister
The New Yorker
Book of Poems,
1974,
page 729.



Saturday, September 6, 2014

TYPES OF PEOPLE

Poem for Today - September 6, 2014





QUESTION IN A FIELD

Pasture, stone wall, and steeple,
What most perturbs the mind:
The heard-rending homely people,
Or the horrible beautiful kind?


 © Louise Bogan


Painting, 
Wheatfield
With a Lark,
by Vincent  
Van Gogh

Friday, September 5, 2014

COMPARISONS


INTRODUCTION

The title, topic, and theme of my homily for this 22   Friday in Ordinary Time  is, “Comparisons.”

A life skill we all need is, “How To Deal With Comparisons.”

It’s a life skill we need as little kids – when a brother or sister or another gets a bigger piece of cake – or a corner piece of cake with more frosting.

It’s a life skill we all need as little old people when we’re shrinking or have more wrinkles or health problems than others.

It’s a life skill we need when others are talking about their wonderful kids or grandkids – their successes, their salaries, their status in life – and our kids – well, a few of them we consider unmentionable.

Comparisons…. Comparisons …. Comparisons ….

And then there’s death…. Sometimes they are a blessing compared to other’s; sometimes they feel like a curse.

God help me learn to deal with comparisons.

TODAY’S GOSPEL

Today’s gospel- Luke 5: 33-39 - has the scribes – they’re the ones with the education – and the Pharisees – they’re the picky, picky religious perfect ones. Today they are about to nit pick on Jesus. They are comparing John the Baptist’s disciples and their disciples to his disciples. They are sliding in the innuendo that Jesus disciples are having too good a time in life – and they don’t fast and pray enough.

Comparisons…. Comparisons …. Comparisons….

So Jesus throws them a comparison right back into their talk and thinking patterns, “Can you make the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them?”

Translation: Lighten up turkeys. Lighten up! Celebrate!

Then he says, “Okay there will be days when it’s time to fast – when the bridegroom is gone – but not now, turkeys.”

Picture a sweet wedding celebration on a Saturday in September. Then picture people showing up with Ash Wednesday ashes on. It doesn't compute. 

Then Jesus compares old cloth and new cloth – old wine and new wine – old wine skins and new wine skins.

The new is the new and the old is the old.

Sometimes one is better than the other.

Think turkeys, think.

Comparisons …. Comparisons ….  Comparison ….

I once heard a series of talks by a well-known Catholic speaker. He kept saying in talk after talk after talk that life is a battle. Every day we got to wake up and enter the battlefield.

I finally raised my hand. I asked him,  “Do you really see every day as a battle?”

He answered, “Everyday!”

So I said, “I don’t agree with you. I don’t agree with your metaphor, your comparison - and how you see life.”

I think of Father Al Rush – an old priest I used to work with – who often said, “Andy, I don’t think God wants life to be as tough, tough, tough – rough, rough, rough – as some people make it.”

COMPARISONS CAN CRUSH

Comparisons can crush. 

Comparisons can cut. 

Comparisons can also be creative.

The house next door can have a great lawn – and a good paint job – and some nice Japanese Maple Trees and hedges and flowers – and my place can be a mess. If my neighbor’s property gets me to do some yard work – getting me and my  lawns - front and back – in better shape – along with my tummy – great.

If it gets me complaining – tearing him or her or them down – then not so great.

Comparisons can crush. 

Comparisons can cut.

A priest once told me that he was standing in the back of the church – ready to proceed down the aisle for the Mass. The Cantor and Singer welcomes everyone. Then she asked everyone to silence all electronic devices. Then she said, “Our celebrant is __________” At that, hearing the priest’s name, someone said rather loud, “Oh no!”

How’s that for a comparison that cut and crushed.

LAST NIGHT – PEACE

Last night at St. John Neumann there was a service for peace.

Some lady afterwards said, “Where was everybody? How come the kids weren’t here? How come their parents weren’t here?”

I said, “Jesus said, ‘Feed the sheep. Don’t count the sheep!'”

I didn’t go much further in our at the back on the way out of church conversation – but I wondered if that was her life – always comparing what is with what isn’t. Does this cause her regular agita of the soul.

Envy is wanting what the other person has: looks, car, kids, spouse, beautiful skin, clothes, property, you name it. Underneath envy is comparisons.  Comparing myself to what another has. I want that.

It’s at the underneath of war – and world problems.

It’s at the underneath of why there is a lack of peace.

Jealousy is wanting to hold on to, protect, what I have and not wanting to lose it to another.  At the bottom of that is also comparisons. 

Envy and jealousy and comparisons – all have to be put on the table for discussion when it comes to war and peace.

CONCLUSION

Comparisons can crush and they can be creative.

In the meanwhile: the question – Am I a happy camper?

I think that’s a key life question: “Am I a happy camper?”

Be who you is, because if you be who you ain't, then you ain't who you is.

Be where you is, because if you be where you’re not, then you’re not where you is.

And one last  great secret of happiness from Thornton Wilder.

Haven’t we gone out to supper with others, who don’t enjoy their meal because our meal – on our plate looks better.

Well a character in Thornton Wilder’s play, The Skin of our Teeth, 1942, Act 1, says a line I love, “My advice to you is not to inquire why or whither, but just enjoy your ice cream while it’s on your plate that’s my philosophy.”



It’s also my theology.
HELP!

Poem For Today - September 5, 2014


HELP

Help, I need somebody,
Help, not just anybody,
Help, you know I need someone,
Help!

When I was younger
so much younger than today
I never needed
anybody's help in any way
But now these days are gone.
I'm not so self-assured
Now I find I've changed my mind
and opened up the doors

Help me if you can, I'm feeling down
And I do appreciate you being 'round.
Help me get my feet back on the ground,
Won't you please, please help me?

And now my life has changed in oh so many ways
My independence seems to vanish in the haze
But every now and then I feel so insecure
I know that I just need you like I've never done before

When I was younger, so much younger than today,
I never needed anybody's help in anyway.
But now these days are gone, I'm not so self assured,
Now I find I've changed my mind, I've opened up the doors.

Help me if you can, I'm feeling down
And I do appreciate you being 'round.
Help me get my feet back on the ground,
Won't you please, please help me?
Help me,
Help me,
Ooooooo. "Help!"




© John Lennon wrote
this song, but it’s
credited to Lennon-
McCartney.

HAVING AN 
IMPULSE FOR PEACE 


INTRODUCTION

The title of my reflection for this evening "Prayer Service for Peace" is, “Having An Impulse for Peace.”

My take on this evening is that we are here to take an hour to be peaceful – to be with each other and pray – to sing – to hope - for peace.

I’m assuming all peacemaking – like all politics – remembering what Tip O’Neill famously said: “All politics is local politics” – I want to say, “All peacemaking is local peacemaking.”  That means working to be peaceful with family, neighbors, and the folks one is with in local traffic and one’s own workplace. 

Better: I’ll go a step further and say, “All local peacemaking is inner self peace making.” As the song we’re going to sing at the end of our service tonight goes, “Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.”

I’m also assuming that the impulse for this evening is that the world – right  now - seems rather antsy and angry – with too much agita and aggression.

Antsy – angry – agitated – aggressive – all words beginning with A.

I’m sure we could also move to words beginning with the letter B: belligerence - bullying – battles - bombs – and we could move to C and D and all the way to Z.

I don’t know about you – but I’m nervous around zealots.

The Letter “P ”also has it’s words: peace, prayer, pause, presence.

We’re assuming that tonight we’re not the only ones in sacred places – being peaceful and praying for peace in our world – aware of each other.

Ferguson – Ukraine – Iraq – Syria – Lybia – Somalia -  déjà vu and déjà vu after déjà vu – over and over again.

It’s 2014. We're 100 years after the start of World War I – in which 10 million military people and 7 million civilians were killed – and the seeds for World War II were planted.

It’s 2014.  200 years ago – in December  - the day before Christmas - of that year - the War of 1812 ended – after 2 ½ years of fighting. And unfortunately  –  the Battle of New Orleans was fought in January of 1815 – because news of  the Treaty of Ghent had not reached  the British in the Gulf of Mexico and Louisiana nor Andrew Jackson yet.

It’s 2014 – 150 years after the 4th year of the United States Civil War.

That’s world news – that’s old news….

I’m sitting there watching the 10 o’clock evening news out of Philadelphia with my sister, my brother-in-law and their son Gerard. At 10 PM Gerard says, “What are watching this for?”

I’m sure he wanted a baseball game instead.

He went on, “Why are we watching this? The first three stories are going to be 3 murders in Philadelphia and Camden, then a fire, and then another murder or a robbery.”

Sure enough. That night it was 4 murders and 2 fires.

I never forgot that observation by my nephew Gerard.

It must be the easy way to do the evening news: because it seems that’s the same formula for the 10 o’clock evening news out of Baltimore each night as well.

I have never watched the 10 PM news in Miami, Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas or L.A. – yet I assume that’s the evening news there too.

What’s it like to watch the local evening news in Bogota or Barcelona, Mumbai or Moscow?

Do those who watch World News have the same “uh!” and “Oh no!” feelings all over the world?

Lately the lead stories on the 6:30 or 7 PM World News – seem to have more news  about non-peaceful moments – and so we gather here tonight.

THE COMMITTEE

The committee that met to pray and prepare for this meeting tonight  provided some talking points about peace – and gave them to me. Thank you. May every group and organization do the same.

THE TITLE OF MY THOUGHTS

The title of my thoughts for this evening is: “The Impulse for Peace.”

I noticed on the program that one of the action steps for after this meeting – after this get together – is that people make a One Minute Prayer for Peace Every Day at Noon.

That’s doable. I’ll try that.

That’s workable. I’ll practice that.

I know somewhere along the line – amongst other things – in the morning after I wake up – and get out of bed – I pull the blinds in my room – look out to see what kind of a day it is – and I do 74 – extended arm lifting exercises. 74 is my age. I started doing that when I was 33 or 34 – with 33 arm things – and each year on my birthday I add one more. It works. It has become second nature.

Somewhere along the line I also found myself standing there in the dark before getting into bed at night – stretching out my arms. I then say the Our Father out loud. Then I do 3 genuflections – one to the Father, one to the Son, and one to the Holy Spirit. I thank them for a good day. That’s been going on for some 40 years or so.

[Gesture showing muscles] If you too want muscles like I have, there's the secret.

Years and years ago an old man – on the Tennessee Border -  probably younger than I am now – told me that every morning – when he wakes up – he keeps his eyes closed – and wiggles his toes. If they wiggle, he told me, he says to God, “Thank You God for another day of life.”

So now tonight – September 4, 2014 – someone is going to suggest every day at noon from now on to say a One Minute Prayer for Peace. Who knows, maybe 50 years from now – all of you – well some of us – will still be doing that – starting tomorrow at noon?

Since the title of my thoughts for this evening is: “The Impulse for Peace”, may I suggest beginning this way: take your pulse. [Gesture] Catch your pulse – pulsing – pulsing – pulsing. Thank God you’re alive. That’s one of things they check when it looks like we’re leaving this life.

Then after saying, “Thank You God that I’m alive” or however you want to word it, ask the Lord for impulses for peace.

Each noon time monitor what your day has been like so far?  What have been your impulses: antsy – anger – agitation – aggression.

Or peace, prayer, pause, presence to the people we’re with?

THREE TYPES OF PEOPLE

I noticed in the “Talking Points About Peace” that the committee came up with  – there is mention of 3 Types of People.”

I always like People Typing Tests – because they get me to think. Which one am I? Jesus offered at least 7 people typing in his parables.[1]

This 3 Types of People When It Comes to Peace labels them this way: Peace-Breakers, Peace-Fakers, and Peace-Makers.

Right now put your thumb on your pulse and listen to your heart: which of these three impulses is more you?

The Peace-Breakers confront, cause agita, division, disagreements. They are manipulative, witch hunt, gossip, slander, are opinionated, and judgmental. They tear down – cause friction, and are mouthy. Thank God none of us here tonight are like that.  I love that old saying, “There are two types of people, ‘Those who cause happiness wherever they go and those who cause happiness whenever they go.”

The Peace-Fakers want harmony, peace at all costs, no violence, no hostility, but avoid allowing interpersonal or international relationships. They won’t or don’t want to deal with justice issues – the deeper issues – and so they come up with a counterfeit peace. I was trying to remember the peace diagram I heard in some talk – some years ago. For peace, everyone needs to be in on a piece of the action, get a piece of the pie, so as to have peace of mind. I think there were two more pieces to that – but I only  remember 2 pieces: the giving everyone a piece of the pie and everyone a piece of the action. In other words, if we don’t get everything out on the table – we’ll end up having a nice peaceful looking pond – but lurking in that water are lots of sharks and alligators.

The Peace Makers are the good gals and good guys. They are the peace makers that Jesus said they are blessed. The info the committee game me said that they respect, think before they speak, and don’t have the outcome all figured out before we begin to be with each other.   They also experience the cross – the great symbol here in this church. We all want it this way – and surprise someone right there across from us at the table – wants it another way.  Life is loaded with cross purposes. Sometimes peace makers are crucified. Look at Christ. Case in point.

So when we take our pulse each day – at noon – take also a pulse on what our predominating impulses are flowing through our blood that day – that moment. Then pause and pray.

Some days – let’s be honest – we’re peace breakers. Some days we are peace fakers. To be honest, some days I just don’t have the time right now – to sit down and talk with so and so – and some days – hopefully – most days – we can be blessed peace makers.

CONCLUSION


And in that one minute at noon each day – to smile – because we’re not in this alone. We’re with each other as we are tonight. Amen.

+++++++++


[This was a talk I gave last night - at a Prayer Service for Peace -  September 4, 2014 at St. John Neumann Church, Annapolis, Maryland.]

NOTES

[1] Let me see how many I can find: 


  • Fasting: Gloomy or Clean Faced Matthew 6:16-18;
  • Narrow Gate or Wide Gate? Matthew 7:13-14
  • House on Rock or House on Sand? Matthew 7:24-27;
  • Good Tree - Bad Tree Matthew 12:33-37;
  • Parable of Sower - 4 types? Matthew 13: 1-9
  • Wheat or Weed? Matthew 13: 24-30-Matthew 13: 36-43;
  • Workers in the Vineyard? Different Hours? Matthew 20: 1-16
  • Two Sons - Yes or No? Matthew 21: 28-28-32;
  • Faithful or Unfaithful Servant? Matthew 24: 45-51;
  • Wise Virgin or Foolish Virgin? Matthew 25: 1-13; 
  • Three Servants  Given Talents According to Ability - Matthew 25: 14-30;
  • Sheep or Goat? Matthew 25: 31-46;
  • Good Samaritan? Which of the 4 Characters am I? Luke 10:29-37;
  • Martha or Mary? Luke 10: 38-42;
  • Regular Sheep or Lost Sheep? Luke 15: 1-7;
  • Prodigal Son, Older Brother or Father Luke 15: 11-32;
  • Rich Man or Lazarus? Luke 16: 19-31;
  • 10 Men Healed of Leprosy? Luke 17: 11-19;
  • Pharisee or Tax Collector? Luke 18: 9-14;




Thursday, September 4, 2014

ME AND YOU! 
ENLIGHTEN ME! 

Poem - September 4, 2014


SUBURBAN WIFE'S SONG 

When you are gone, I lie upon your bed
And you are there, dark as the light of stars,
Closer than measurements of heart, and loud
With the silences of all our daily years;

And then the door key, lights in the living room,
The slamming wood, the briefcase on the floor,
The way you say, "Where's everyone? I'm home" -
And do not know how far you are.


© Robert Hutchinson,
pp. 690-691 in
The New Yorker 
Book of Poems1974

Painting: Room 
in New York, 1932
 by Edward Hopper