for Carolyn Clayton
It’s those soft-spoken moments we offer
at lunch I keep close, when we quietly
measure the universe. Words grown softer
even when we speak of children—of my
Catherine and your Tim, Cristen, Clayton—
and those extended stars glowing across
our spectrum. How we laugh when we lay on
impromptu puns and ironies, each cross
made acceptable through balance. You may
stand alone as caregiver, nurturing
legions of both doctors and patients. Stay
my duet partner, will you? Endearing
times after meetings when we thrill small throngs,
some image making us break into song.
Roger Armbrust
January 31,
2013
