mercy
(for Sofia Curtis)
my friend often talks about
the one whose life will shape
her life, that person who
contributes to the world, takes
care of health, of what enriches
like gardening, baking, taking
walks, but knows the garnish
of power, achievement, success
but I see the one as a virtue
compassion like the wind
combing back her hair, like
all the summers she’s ever had
coming to warm her, like
today’s sun that she reveres
dabbing at her fingers—a mercy
like what the flowers show
across the street, a bouquet-trail
of mini floral buds blossom
along the ruddy curb, spright
white, may yellow, soft
peach sheltering green-brown
stems that nod to spring gusts
but do not grumble over the other
just do a gift they have to serve
the other, to support each other
in a soughing wind’s rise, fall
whisks—the same kindness
and relief that can center our core
generate by what we receive
transform by what we give away
sometimes in a gentle touch
or a tough love, sometimes in an
understanding or soothing ear
for a friend who seeks an unearned
unmerited wholeness, a one
only God can give really—
like what the flowers show
Olga Dugan is a Cave Canem poet. Nominated for Best of the Net and Pushcart prizes, her award-winning poems appear in many anthologies and literary journals including Ekstasis (now Inkwell), Spirit Fire Review, Reformed Journal, The Windhover, Relief, The Sunlight Press, Lived In, Litmosphere, The Write Launch, Ariel Chart, Channel (Ireland), Cave Canem Poetry, Kweli, Sky Island Journal, evolution: The Red Moon Anthology of English-Language Haiku, Munster Literature Centre’s Poems from Pandemia, and many others.
Amethyst Review 