elevation

infinity of limbs

denim and brown

i sit on your shoulders

you clasp my hands in yours

denim and brown

an open field of spring

you clasp my hands in yours

as if for warmth

an open field of spring

trees branch

as if for warmth

reach for the sun between clouds

trees branch

and come together at the root

reach for the sun on cloudy days

while intertwining underground

our hands together at your chin

infinite loops of legs and arms

tangled like life loves life itself

i sit on your shoulders

In her poem “Father Son and Holy Ghost” Audre Lorde writes about why she has not yet gone to her father’s grave. In the poem, published in her first collection “The First Cities” she mourns and remembers her father, but most of all she reveals her fear of how death has made him “changeless.” It is that changelessness that terrifies her. She finds it incompatible with her own existence.

One of the blessings of these four years of grief since my father’s death is that in fact our relationship continues to grow and change daily. A transformation I attend to and observe closely through a number of practices and through the hundreds of poems I have written about, for, to and with my father in the intervening time. Time is not as much of an intervention as I thought it was in the infinity of love. While with every new accomplishment I feel the longing for his witness, the sound of his voice in celebration, the hug, the words of pride and affirmation, I am grateful for the undeniable presence of his energy with me and in the world through those same moments. This poem, the first of a series based on photos of me and my father together, mostly taken by my mother Pauline McKenzie is part of my acknowledgement that I am participating in the elevation of his spirit daily and that he has always and still now make my elevation possible in this world and beyond. Thank you. I love you.

P.S. My every day writing practice shapes my days into vessels for generations of love. If you want support with your own daily creative practice, I’d love to be part of your journey. This is the Stardust and Salt Daily Creative Practice Intensive.