.
how is it
i ask with thirty years of hindsight
and
four indulged and clammering
children round our own
when we gathered everyone who mattered
from the final hymn and handshake
we
the
pride and joy
the
blessings and the stuff of dreams
for
their abundant lives
accepted without complaint our lot
sent away to wait and
to
be quiet
while they
after offering glorious four part praises
clattered
laughed and
feasted
men
secure against the wall
to
each according to his needs and
women popping up and down
from each according to her abilities
and we
imbibing smells of
hamburger kotletten balls and
paska Easter bread
envisioned mounds of fluffy mashed potatoes
golden buttered corn and
glistening jelly salads
orange and green and red
prayed
stomachs growling
heads stunned with anticipation
hearts gripped by fear
that all the torte
oozing pudding out and down
between flat layer cakes
fourteen I think in all
would disappear down all those callused throats a-laughing
our time would come
once men loosening belts
still joking
sauntered out from her domain
proud of their accomplishments
setting free their beloved progeny
to tumble in
to
take our places round
the
closest we could know
to heaven