Johnny Baranski
Vancouver, Washington, U.S.A.

Kaleidoscope

my routine at the hospice where I volunteer constantly changes. one week I'm hanging out chatting with the residents another I am doing their bidding. sometimes I just sit in the chapel or at a dying resident's bedside and pray the rosary. today Sister Dominica asks me to go grocery shopping with her. she says she needs me to help her navigate the streets of far Southeast Portland (she's only recently been licensed to drive) and to navigate the aisles of the WINCO food mart a store seemingly ten miles long and five miles wide. what a workout but we get the job done. back at the hospice we stow away the provisions and have a light lunch. later out in the garden a resident asks me to read some of Neruda's love sonnets to her.

knowing death draws near blossoming chrysanthemum