The After

The After  
with thanks to Ellen Girardeau Kempler

Of course there’s an after,
cosmos still swirling
and expanding
in the wake of my body, 
gone—but I doubt heaven
as many imagine

I long to meld back
into the original field— 
doing now done
whirlpool returns
to river

But if there is a heaven,
let mine be spacious
stretches of solitude
large sunlit studio
endless spread of supplies
for both writing and painting
beloveds visit to share a cuppa
sighthounds by my side