Inspired by a Carmelite Sister known to the author

Such a little sister in that earth box,
the large cross lain upon it a farewell
that became a welcome. What mattered
was not the counting houses of the world
whose currency was seizure. Instead,
she scrubbed the earth for paper whites
and roses to glorify bright Easter.

To honour Christ in his journey:
a gift to time without time.
On her last day she walked down
the prayer swept hallway through
a door with the word Eternity hung
over it. For 38 years she waited
for Christ to knock and ask her in.

Her lips now touched His words, some
in silence, some in song, some
at the Easter Vigil, when wax and fire
speak with mortal and sacred breath.