On the darkest night of the year,
Susan asks about Grandma Minnie
yet again. And again, I soften and speak
of being a child in your Brooklyn kitchen,
sitting next to your stove as you made
latkes, patting the excess oil and giving
them to me while they were warm.
And Susan jumps up, as she does every
year, as if for the first time, and starts
grating potatoes. I put on klezmer music
and we make latkes and eat standing
in the kitchen.
Our dog jumps to the music or to
the presence of something unseen.
I grab her paws and we dance briefly
to the music of the old world.
A Question to Walk With: In conversation with a friend or loved one, tell the story of a moment with an elder that has become part of a ritual for you.
This is from my book of poems in progress, The Gods Visit.
APRIL 22–24: Premayoga, Brooklyn, NYC, The Long Walk Through Time: From Brokenness to Tenderness, weekend workshop, Fri 7–9:30PM EST Sat 9:30–5:30PM EST (lunch 12:30–2), Sun 9:30–12:30PM EST, 976 Fulton St, Brooklyn, NY, 11231, 718–237–2372, (web link) — IN PERSON
PREMAYOGA CONTACT: Maille Charbonneau maille@premayogabrooklyn.com
MAY 13–15: Reading and Weekend Retreat, The Deeper Teachers: Pain, Fear, and Grief, The Sophia Institute, Charleston, SC, or call 843–720–8528, (web link) — IN PERSON & VIRTUAL
SOPHIA CONTACT: Carolyn Rivers, crivers@thesophiainstitute.org
MAY 23–27: Weeklong Retreat, The One Life We’re Given: Saying Yes to Life, The Modern Elder Academy, Baja, Mexico. Registration closes on April 25 th. (web link) — IN PERSON
MEA CONTACT: CHIP CONLEY, chip@chipconley.com
