How to Make Your Own Easter by Cassie Premo Steele
First you have to sleep. So you can wake
At dawn, and see the stone you placed
Upon yourself has been rolled away.
You might have done it yourself
After two or three beers, but you
Can’t remember. It doesn’t matter.
What matters is matter. Making
Coffee is a sacred act. When you
Hand it to your wife, say, This
Is my blood, given in remembrance
Of love. Apologize to each other
Five minutes later when one of
You snaps at the other because
The dance of mind and clock
Created some urgency. It will
Pass. Clean out the cupboard.
Arrange what has not expired
Nicely and recycle the cartons
And take out the trash of what
Has. Do the dishes. Gloves.
Hot water. Scrub them lovingly
But hard like you are bathing
Your baby daughter. Make ham
Soup. Use the bone from the being
Who gave his life for you. Add
A can of split pea soup from
Germany. Cut the onions and
Garlic like a ceremony. Smell
Their juices rising in butter
Like incense. This is a high
Holiday. Write a letter to your
Mother while it simmers.
Include a photo of you and
Your daughter from the 4th
Of July right before 9/11 in it,
The baby wearing the dress
From Peru your sister gave
You. Remember that physical
Touch and all objects have
Always been alive like this.
Feed the birds. Sit down to
Write. Listen to the words
Of your wife as she takes
A phone call from someone
Confirming our address.
Know that sounds are a
Blessing of vibration and
Location and are only an
Interruption when our minds
Tell us this. Smile at the
Chickens. Watch your dog
Sniff. Breathe in. Listen to your
Body poke her fingers in your
Belly because you have not
Yet had breakfast. Gather
The eggs. Slice bread. Use butter
And honey, and when you feed
Yourself, let it be a communion
With the heron who lands
In the ash tree. Everything
Now is holy. Resurrect this.
Cassie Premo Steele, Ph.D., is an ecofeminist poet, novelist, and TEDx speaker. She lives in South Carolina with her wife and 20-year old daughter who is now attending college from her bedroom. Her most recent book is The ReSisters, a #1 bestselling LGBT YA novel. Her website is www.cassiepremosteele.com