Ed Gabrielsen

She is my Rose of Sharon

She is my rose,

The Rose of Sharon is Shari.

On sun through trees evenings,

Or sometimes afternoons,

We walk the route you found,

Your favorite.

Going together up the long climb,

and then down again,

turning left

at the cemetery where

the moss-covered stones are our friends

past the place

where you used to get afraid–

that long straight stretch,

secluded,

by the rock wall–

you braved that fear

as you have so many others,

yet another jewel in your crown,

sun bedecked,

red lion’s mane,

halo.

Invisible no longer to me,

you are my goddess,

Green Tara,

my Esther, Naomi, Ruth.

to your girls, “mama”– (djuweet?)

for me,

life itself.

Cleanse these eyes with tears,

there is nowhere left to go.

only scrub with salt.

no where needed to go,

no where else,

only this.

baruch ata adonai

Rockport, 2023