Sister on the Line

(For the incomparable Heather, who tap-danced without stopping
through all the hours of the protest today
while holding her "Live and Let Live" sign over her head,
standing next to me with my "Love" sign
and blowing my mind by reciting extended passages
of my own poetry to me from memory.)

+ + +

I met her on the protest line
And right away I knew
Someone would be a friend of mine
And that someone was you

I feel the grace of meaning start
To settle like a dove
Then rise a phoenix in my heart
And I will live by love
As I once did so long ago
When you were far away

But we knew us then even so
Until we met today
As we have known us everywhere
Forever and always
In hope and love and answered prayer:
That which has meaning stays

I look at you and recognize
The God I serve in your dark eyes

+Steven Curtis Lance



Copyright MMVIII