Just Love

—for Maryann (1943-2021)



my sister died last night—
last night I cried. today
I threw my bucket down a well
and wheeled it to the top filled
with pre-viral life. I sighed
and gently as I could I spilled
our eight-decade past into
a broken glass and it was
amply filled,
every memory a bell

as each peal rang and passed
I summoned Mystery to ask,
why should such tiny things as this
be let to hurt and kill?

I never answer this,
Mystery replied —just love.

I never tell, why ask?

Jim Culleny
1/17/21