Michael Escoubas: "Towel and Basin"

“Instead of going to heaven at last,

I’m going all along.” —Emily Dickinson

This morning I plodded in pajamas

and bare toes toting my full water pitcher,

prepared as an offering for my

hanging blue Fan plant. The tall

grass washed my feet as Jesus might.

I was met by a congregation

of glad-handed Hostas greeting

and touching me, choirs of Clematis

robed in purple, jovial Jonquils clad in yellow,

sun-facing Spiderworts, and sweet green Mint

mingled with spicy Oregano, breathing

their fragrances, glistening and glowing

in sunlight and dew.

They danced when they saw me;

asked no questions, made no judgments,

anointed me with dew, toweled my dusty

feet with warm sun, then sent me on

to do for another what they had done for me.

"Towel and Basin" by Michael Escoubas. © Michael Escoubas. Text presented here by poet submission.

Curator's note: This poem won the 2014 Illinois State Poetry Society competition in the free verse category. It was published recently in Limited Magazine (06/15).

Art credit: Untitled image by unknown photographer associated with Gardenista.