SADIE

She's dying now.
I remember her when
she was younger

and brought her three
kids to church. They
were more than a

handful, especially the
youngest who once crawled
over the back of the pew

and landed kerthunk
at the feet of Martha
Baer who screamed in

the middle of the Lord's
Prayer so we never got
past lead us not into

temptation. Harvey Kuhn lifted
up the fallen child and
handed him to his mother

and whispered loud enough
so we all heard it: I think
this belongs to you.

No one ever heard her
complain about her husband
who everybody knew was as

useless as an appendix.
She carried on. Her
kids grew up and left.

They'll be back for the funeral.