In Memoriam Triptych

 In Memoriam Triptych

Dedicated to Aunt Edna and Uncle John

 

I do not call you servants any longer… I have called you friends[i]

 

 

In Memoriam Triptych I: On Aunts

 

Glistening,

Gleaming,

Bright jewels of friendship.

Always there.

 

On glorious

Scented seasonal display

In Chapel’s heart,

Churches tall,

Cathedrals. Fine

Fortitude

Flowers gleam.

 

On hospitality.

Gifting us

Deep lessons in generosity.

Welcoming us to their table.

 

On wisdom

The Teacher.

Sharp insight.

Opening books.

Navigating

Learning.

Oiling

Hinges on the doors of

Our imagination.

 

On being

A gift

Of beauty.

 

 

In Memoriam Triptych II: On Uncles

 

On a lesson,

in the grace

of being there.

 

Wrapping arms of wisdom,

Round life’s shoulders.

Teaching important lessons.

 

Gifting

Exemplary

Examples

Of service.

To the Community,

the Church,

and the Saviour.

 

Incisive advice.

Ever

constant

gloriously

indefatigable

dry wit.

 

 

In Memoriam Triptych III: On Glory

 

Having always been there.

Now time and eternity meet,

They Kiss Hands.

 

Glorious things of thee are spoken

Zion, city of our God[ii]

 

Transfigured.

Reunited in Friendship.

As Citizens

And Residents

of Glory.

 

See, the streams of living water

Springing from eternal love.

 

With

Litanies of

Nonconformist

Angels

And Archangels.

 

Round each habitation hov’ring

See the cloud and fire appear.

 

Singing in the choir stalls

of Heaven.

Decorating Chapels

And Tables

in the Holy City.

Corresponding with the

Governor of the Bank of Heaven

On the Fiscal Matters of the Day.

Quietly crafting crosswords in

The New Jerusalem Times.

 

Saviour, if of Zion’s city

I through grace a member am.

 

In the Chapel Meetings of

Of the New Jerusalem.

Lives well lived

In winsome discipleship.

Now there,

For time and eternity meet.

 

 

Copyright

© Lottie E. Allen

24 October

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand and Twenty-Two

 

 

The Footnotes



[i] John, Chapter Fifteen, Verse Fifteen (New Revised Standard Version)

[ii] John Newton, 1725-1807 (to the tune Austria).

 

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