Sister Birthday Poem #2

She sat at our kitchen table as we ate slowly 

And talked fast 

Laughing and sharing little parts 

Of our hearts and our days 

As the plates were cleared 

She told us she had a song she wrote 

“I Know my relationship was good. But also 

It ended for a reason…..

I wrote a song for the heart break in the middle. 

The loss of not being terrible, but still not okay.” 

We sat upright in our chairs, 

eager to learn of these lyrics 

When her mouth fell open 

A cathedral poured out of her 

A calling to those that are a little lost and 

searching for a place to be found, 

Understood. 

To pray not to someone outside of themselves, 

But inward to their own sprit inside

Guiding them to finally choose themselves 

With every line she sang 

The cathedral called more wayward souls in 

When she hit the high notes 

She shattered through the roofs of heaven 

The message made clear as the kitchen lights flickered 

I’ve only known church to be a place for god 

Her voice is a cathedral for the godless 

Her voice is a cathedral for our magic