My morning started
With my joints
Telling me it was rainy.
I didn’t have to look outside to know
I was right.
10.24.22
“Cereal” he said
I watched little one eating cereal.
Using the spoon as long as possible
But don’t deny the fingers a chance
To do their work.
Little one eats the soggy ones off the
Back of his hand they are apparently
Especially good
Don’t leave them there to sink or swim
Grab them up and finish it off
And then look at Naani
And sign… all done
(But hey Naani, don’t try to trick me I saw you put water in my juice
I’ll have Nothing of that.)
10.24.22
++++++++++
When an elder passes over
We don’t quite know what to do
As it is like a place closer to your own dying
Is opened up.
We don’t die in order
or because of goodness or meanness
It comes to us all we just wait our turn
And then say
– yes
– And in the meantime we live and love and laugh
– 10.24.22
-+++++++++
Prayer I
O God help
Prayer II
Enough!
Prayer III
Deep cleansing Breath!
Prayer IV
Thank You
10.24.22
+++++++
I sat in my daddy’s office one afternoon waiting for a ride home.
The large window that went to the high office ceiling
Let in light and a wonderful view of the edge of the Oval and the campus.
In the fall, because of the trees it was breath-taking with the brightness of the Fall Color carrying trees.
This was spring and there was trouble on the campus I put away any hippie clothes and dressed as conservative as I could so not to gain attention by the national guard.
Classes were weird with lots of crying from the tear gas. One professor said don’t come to class I will pass all of you this is not going to end well.
Be careful kids, please
The day before when the teargas started and the National guard was marching across the Oval to the side where I was walking. I walked into Orton hall that had a beautiful arched big front door. I stood there with about 15 others watching the encounter unfold. The Guard would send the tear gas canisters over. The Rioters would pick them up and lob them back. One came very close to the door and filled the hallway with teargas. We all reached for water bottles to rinse our eyes. Wait! Wait! Someone yelled Make sure it isn’t Pepper Gas. It wasn’t
The next thing I knew was a young man standing next to me had put his arm around me and my arm was around him and we leaned into each other. I didn’t know his name but in that moment we were present for each other. I don’t remember looking at him in the eye or acknowledge the 20 minutes we stood there together. I do remember the comfort I felt.
My Daddy, a professor, was having trouble understanding what I was seeing when I walked across campus. I was in his office one afternoon, waiting for a ride home, (I know I repeat the first line)
Daddy came in and said “What is going on. I don’t get it.” At that moment we both looked up and saw five guys running full out around the corner of the Library. On their heels were 15 Guardsmen and one fired a tear gas canister toward the runners but it went astray and came right at the open Office Window. Daddy said “Now!” We both ran out the door and closed it behind us. The office filled up with teargas. We drove home.
Later that day Kent State happened. Students died. Random students outside the periphery of the protesters. It didn’t end well did it?
10.24.22
bobbie giltz mcgarey
The Spirit Will Tell You 