6       sunday morning 9/16/01

for bailey

the st. marys river flows

as if nothing has happened

i watch it with my coffee

afraid and sad as are we all

so many ones to hate and i

cursed with long memory

cursed with the desire to understand

have never been good at hating

now this new granddaughter

born into a violent world

as if nothing has happened

and i am consumed with love

for all of it

the everydayness of bravery

of hate of fear of tragedy

of death and birth and hope

true as this river

and especially with love

bailey fredrica clifton goin

for you