Russell Erwin: This is it

This is it

A Reading from Paul’s Letter to the Corinthians

(i.m. Michael Hewitt. For Natalie Hewitt)

He enters, with a touch at her back, guides her

to one of the few empty places. In turn,

she brushes lint from his shoulder. They settle

among us. This is it.

The light is honeyed; there is a peewit

outside, calling, wincing off. Hay-making season.

The smell of grasses drying.

This is it, big man. Your people are here.

This is old Crookwell. You’d know.

You’d’ve done this yourself, big-hearted man,

any number of times—St Mary’s, your church,

where you were married, from where you’ll be taken.

“She’ll be a big one,” we say, “Get there early.”

This is it: in the quiet river of the responses:

in the answering silence, in each body murmuring

with the words which hum of our mortality.

This is it. Taken out from the day

we again know something

and despite our coarseness and forgetfulness

touch death, and moved, are moved into love,

even in the casualness of a gesture.

Never more so than when that slight, shy woman

stepped to the lectern and from her little body

gave clear, assured shape to those words of Paul

as I have never heard before, for you, her brother-

in-law, you big man. Those words read, spoke.

And being spoken, enacted, no, breathed life, love.

                                       Russell Erwin