the poems of others

remembering the lives of friends this weekend and thought i'd publish their own words in today's post.  colleen richmond's (july 18, 1952-january 26, 2007 age 54) "in the rose garden" and hubert thornburg's (june 21, 1921-january 20, 2013 age 91) "when" and "conquered".

in the rose garden
the endless dream is rusting
but queen elizabeth is properly pink
dignified and throned in orderly pillbox perfection.
ah, but we're in america--however else did chrysler imperial
come to mingle with the poetic likes of mikado, mirandy, and royal amethyst?
in the summer sunshine, a gold glow--the faces and laughter of the world
in the blossoms of the roses.
ah, there the ineluctable troika startles into circle:  pascali, anastasia and lady x.
"a brandy, mr. lincoln?"
"the king's ransom for the capture of that droplet quivering on the precipice of a petal."
a perfect moment,
a quaker star.
peace has bloomed and gone,
but honor reaches up with white cupped hands.
--cr

when
when i stand before thy throne
dressed in beauty (not my own)
when i see thee with unsinning heart
then, Lord, shall i fully know
not till then--how much i owe!

conquered (my prayer)
conquered by the Christ
who died to set me free;
conquered by the Christ
who rose to live in me;
sovereign and supreme
He reigns eternally;
rule my spirit, Lord,
and Master me.
--ht