gather

We gather
beneath the sign
that tells us to

We arrive
as we are
deep in the wild bush
or manicured lawn
sparse ground
or bare

We talk
every kind of talk

We cry
every kind of tear—
deep
grief,
frustration,
exhaustion, and
laughing until we cry

We laugh
How can we not?
rueful or goofy or joyful
we remind ourselves, we
remind each other
there is so much to
laugh about

rain, almost all the time
watering the world
for the season to come

Then once again, our gathered selves
return to our spots on this green world
heavier on the scales than when we arrived
but lighter in our hearts
All of us singing
or humming or at least
whispering the words we know
All of us, the same song—
grateful and grateful and
blessed to be known