The bounds of the Universe are thin on January the 4th.

[if there are any heavens]

by e.e. cummings

if there are any heavens my mother will (all by herself) have

one.  It will not be a pansy heaven nor

a fragile heaven of lillies-of-the-field but

it wll be a heaven of black-red roses

my father will be (deep like a rose

tall like a rose)

standing near my

(swaying over her

silent)

with eyes which are really petals and see

nothing with the face of a poet really which

is a flower and not a face with

hands

which whisper

This is my beloved my

                                        (suddenly in sunlight

he will bow,

& the whole garden will bow.)

                                                                                                          MRF and MJF

Burn a candle today if you have the time.

--MJF