on reading The Life of John Donne

Izaak Walton looked at sainthood

with eyes and concepts so different

from my own

assuming ‘ownership’ of wives

and the ‘good fight’ in terms

of racking up points – not in this

world – but primarily in the next

so, for all Walton’s humor and enthusiasm, i read of his friend’s sacrifices and trials

lamenting the loss of Donne’s striking

words rather than taking joy

in marvel of his pain

interpreter

to honor Daphne Clifton, poet

daphne watches nature

captures chickadees and titmice

in their daily, eventful little lives

with gentle words of compassion

and understanding that even too busy

humans can comprehend