About a year ago Mary Rudge was scheduled to go into the hospital for a heart operation. Just a few days before her appointment I was asked to do a mini feature at the Sacred Grounds Cafe. Mary wanted to come.
“Don’t bother,” I told her, “It’s only 8 minutes long. Come when I do a longer feature.”
But she came anyway, because she thought there might be a chance that she would not survive the operation. I read my multi-voice poems with Jack Foley. Mary was delighted. Sacred Grounds was especially full that night and I don’t think Mary even got a chance to read her own poems, but that was not why she came.
Mary passed away in her sleep on January 19. The night before she received a lifetime achievement award from Artists Embassy International. She was with poetry to the end, and I am forever honored by her love and support.
Mistress Mary
child of verse
how did the curtain fall?
With laurel crown
on haloed hair
and loving faces gathered around.
Gentle Mary
long endured
brittle bones and heart.
Mother Hubbard
with a problem shoe
fed her kids and filled the cupboard.
Hail Mary
full of grace
the Lord is with thee.
A lullaby
from earth to heaven
for the wee lamb blithe and spry.
