Postmortem Monday Morning
Todd Matson
just like a monday
morning quarterback
i can see now what
i could not see then
that i was on a quest
for the holy grail of
unconditional love
believing in my youthful
naivete and pathology
that the best way to
find it was to give it
unconditionally
to the likes of you
and so i loved you
i celebrated the way
you looked at each other
and helped you prepare
for a loving, lasting marriage
i nearly danced as i led you
through your wedding vows
i saw you trembling as you
kissed one another
and i trembled a little too
i smiled upon your babies
and blessed them on the altar
as you dedicated them to God
i listened to your feelings
of hurt, shame and anger
when you sat on the brink of
breaking your wedding vows
of letting one another go
i stayed with you all day
and night at the hospital
when you lost that one
who meant the world to you
i consoled you in your grief
and helped you find hope
i visited you time after time
in sickness and health
sunday in and sunday out
i proclaimed good news to you
when everything in life felt bad
i baptized you, i counseled you
i laughed with you, i cried with you
i married you, i buried you
i loved you, i loved you
and you sucked all the marrow
out of my bones and i died
