Year Three

On National Religious Brother’s Day,

I wished happy greetings

to the Brother whom I adore.

While they could have been priests,

Brothers choose a simpler life -

one of service and community.

This particular Brother truly embodies

the Brothers’ charism, so kind and gentle.

How could I not fall for him?

Teaching math, coaching tennis,

starting schools in troubled neighborhoods and countries,

consumed him for more than three decades.

Then three years ago he braved a new adventure:

he left his black robes behind

and slipped on a circle of gold.

The Brother and I lifted a glass

to toast his life then,

well lived and fully spent.

Afterward, we both disrobed.

Skin touching skin,

we intertwined our lives into love.

photo by Lynne Peters