Quiet Awe

the last seven days
a writing hiatus
as life
shuffled me
without commentary
the orchid bloomed
the gold wedding bands were ordered
green peppers harvested
the last of the mangos
sliced
beds in our house
got switched to new rooms
Jeb’s artwork from preschool
shelved in the loft
a baby was born-
my sweet niece-
fresh life!

and I held the sun
on my skin
with the others
gathered
behind a mother
looking to the light
she buried the loss
of her three year old boy
deep
into
the earth

celebrating life
in death
poetry drumming dancing
the man with the guitar
the father of my son
who’s shown me
Love
and Hate
Forgiveness
he offers his voice
to a family’s suffering
“put more love in your heart”
and I was singing with him

ordinary
profound
planting
harvest
for now
I bow
as life leaves me
without words

Jessica Dofflemyer

Tree of Life

there was just this blank wall
88″ x 100″ of white space
track lighting installed
and aimed
at nothing

now
the tree of life

I hold the ladder
while he hangs it
then he holds the ladder
and I adjust the light
no A-frame
just straight up
braced by his body
circus-style

“ok, I’m going up one more rung”
“uh-huh”
“you got me?”
“yes”

purple gold and blue
peacocks flowers and fruit
illumined
all swirling
flourishing
adorning
our living room