woe to her
if she does not lay down
her life for her friends
woe to her
if she does not test
their loyalty
through an overflow
of unrequested giving
woe to her
if she neglects
the thousand kindnesses
she is compelled to offer:
notes, calls, meals, visits,
job tips, professional advice,
a listening ear
affection
attention
woe to her
if her pouring out
fails to keep pace
with her sacred welling up
woe to her
if she learns
to precondition
her unconditional love
woe to her
if she allows
the predictable letdown
from the recipients
of her tireless, gracious acts
to thwart her divine mission
this precious, rare, warm
glowing light
that God
in His good wisdom
and strange providence
has, against the logic
of human interaction,
undeniably lit
let no man
or woman
or stranger
or misunderstanding friend
ever snuff out
woe to a world
without her
doing what
she was made
and is being made
and comes perfectly natural
and joyful
and painful
to do
May 2011
