For  Maroulla Gleaton, M. D.

Seeing beauty as the sticks come down

odd music, created on 55 gallon steel oil drums

from Trinidad and Tobago

young people mostly

makes the hearts race

at the beauty of the women

at the handsomeness of the men

none stopping until fait accompli

you can restore sight

to look at these young people

as the urgency to read

The New York Times, The New Yorker, Harpers

the poetry of China, Russia

always keeping in mind

the beauty of women

here at home, in Rockland, your office, you

I do not know if there is a Goddess of Sight

but with your ancient background

a philosopher of the eyes

is not only possible

but you personify it

making your patients happy and fulfilled

that they placed themselves

in your hands, with the highest of science

at a time the scandalous scorn science

so you give and give of yourself

with delicate hands running delicate machines

you do this because you love people

what higher love than restoring sight

a gift on a Biblical scale

causing anyone to weep at  restored joy

Kendall Merriam, Home, 2/10/2020 5:47 PM

Listening to the Silver Stars and other steel bands