Kathleen

The flowing dress, flowered print--

            cross between cloister habit

            and Hawaiian muumuu--

she wore with socks and trainers

            set her apart from all the rest.

            A bag lady with a distinctive style,

her hair cropped and straight.

            Hard to recognize the Bennington

            coed or the monastic oblate

in the ordinary comfort of someone          

            barely noticed on the street.

            Yet, her disarming insight

controlled her audience, made each one  

            feel somehow like her best friend.

            With candor and objectivity

she explored her struggle with acedia,

            her acceptance of life circumstances
            she couldn't/wouldn't change.

We saw Hawaii through her eyes,
            eyes primed by viewing roses

            among the scrap in Elizabeth.