for carol manley

at four o’clock the birds in the garden
attend to their psalms
it is that sort of day
beginning with a consecrated hour

overcast perhaps

a weekend saturday
we will go to the farmers’ market
this morning later

what to find there
all that our far flung neighbors
have drawn from this rich black earth
our central illinois legacy

what am I saying
all that is alive this day
should lift us up

should hurl us all heaven high
beyond our needs beyond
all that we could ask for

hold me kindly in your thoughts dear
as I write these lines for you