TALKING WITH BIRCHES

THE POETRY OF PAT PARNELL

EXCERPTS FROM TALKING WITH BIRCHES

Boundaries

We know how far we can go
in the double bed.
Know in our sleep
where the mid-line
is in the old four poster,
as though we are a long-ago
courting couple, proper lovers,
bundling
on a chill New Hampshire evening,
the coil of the courting candle
measuring togetherness

Ritual

Every morning he wakes me,
gives me my first pill of the day,
placing it carefully on my open palm.
I pick it up, right thumb and forefinger,
place it in my mouth.
He hands me the cup
and I drink.

We both know.
Every gift given in love
is Eucharist