Leesa

showed up yesterday, silver earrings, skinny legs, high cheekbones, black hair
playing cards all afternoon with Derek
and I saw her dancing during prayer
though she never stood up

just had her arms extended in that way
I've felt in before,
if there were no eyes
you'd be dancing

_____________________________

[Lisa stayed the night to detox and let that demon, alcohol, know it was time to get off her back]

there is a secret to happiness, oh yes you have heard it before but have you lived it have you have you lived it, I do
last night she went coughing, weezing, breathing hard
it woke me up

shaking, she was shaking and I asked if she was cold but she wanted no blankets
chelle and I put our hands on your back, her shoulders
and as we prayed I felt her body relax

that is God's way

Detox, it'll do that to a person, I want to know all about it, the medicine, the disease, the way the alcohol grabs hold of you and when you let it go it grabs and contorts and tries to pull back in,

5:10 am, running across the snow to grab medicine from chip,
Derek, sorry to wake you, but Lisa is shaking
and as we prayed for her I felt her body relax
the dark room with God so alive in our hands our minds our words

there is a secret to happiness, oh yes you have heard it before but have you lived it, have you lived it, I do

_____________________

I am happy.
never been so happy before
even waking up in the of the night to lay near a recovering alcohol in case she needs the hospital
less sleep
less money
less time

But I get to spend all day with God and people and I am learning what my hands are for and
I am happy.
_____________________

Michelle has gone again,
Tony and his thermos clunking after her
late at night we lost them

pray they'll be back
they'll be back

_____________________

a voice is calling, clear the way for the Lord. (is 40)