But still it was done,
the last thing, really, they made

together. When the morphine

wasn’t enough, I said to her,
Think of those lilies,
all the colors they’ll bring.”

Enjoy this audio recording of “Last Things” by Rebecca Ellis from Vol. 33:2 of CALYX Journal! 

Rebecca Ellis lives in southern Illinois. Her poems can be found in About Place JournalThe American Journal of Poetry, Crab Creek Review, Bellevue Literary Review, and Prairie Schooner. She edited Cherry Pie Press, publishing poetry chapbooks by Midwestern women poets.

10 Comments

  • Catherine Rankovic Posted December 27, 2022 4:14 pm

    Completely awesome.

  • Jean Posted December 27, 2022 4:33 pm

    Wow, BJE. That touched me to my soul.

  • gaye gambell-peterson Posted December 27, 2022 5:04 pm

    Beautiful words read in a soft voice with such feeling. My heart is full. Thank you, Rebecca.

  • D. Dina Friedman Posted December 27, 2022 5:09 pm

    Lovely! So moving!

  • Cynthia Posted December 27, 2022 7:15 pm

    I see your mom in my mind’s eye. Determined to get things done. So wonderful to hear your words. Way to go bje.

  • Jane holwerda Posted December 28, 2022 1:34 pm

    Beautiful.

  • Andrea Jackson Posted December 28, 2022 6:01 pm

    So beautiful. Thank you.

  • Keith Byler Posted December 29, 2022 8:59 am

    This is wonderful, Becky. Really stunning…

  • Luci Huhn Posted December 29, 2022 10:55 am

    Just perfect. So beautiful.

  • Abbie Posted December 29, 2022 11:08 am

    BJE I am happy to listen to your voice and think of your family. 10th Street house?

Comments are closed.