FOR ANNE WALDRATH

with a nod to Pat Carr for saying that the dead know everything.

Goddesses, and gods,

hold their bellies,

roll on the floor, 

laugh-tears streaming. No doubt

it is raining laughter

somewhere.

I guess they

just wanted her back. Tears

amid the laughter

for the rest of us.

I can believe

that Anne knows-knew-knows 

 everything. 

Her joyful sense of the absurd

transcends

time, place, and the pompousness

that tries to pass for wisdom.

Bon Voyage, dear carrier

of the spirit of silliness

firmly embedded

in the cosmic laughter

of love.

Lesley, 

I love this poem. It captures Anne beautifully. She had a divine gift of bringing forth laughter. The poem, The Dead Do Not Want Us Dead, shared by Myra Shapiro in her workshop seems fitting here. I am sure Anne wants us to keep on having good belly laughs even if we don't have her on earth to lead the way. We will have to catch her punch lines by reading the stars.