Remembering Dolly
Rhinestones and lace
Records and grace
Networks and Nashville
But ever and always the face
Of kindness
To hear her songs
Wrapped like gifts
Was to belong—
Never a stranger in her midst
Country or Manhattan
Her outreach ever has been
To souls
Irrespective of precedence
You, baptist
You, gay
You, elder
You, addict
You, hiding behind names
Lest you be set aflame
Dolly offered herself the blaze
Flamboyance outshining
Any condescending gaze
Her glittering presence assuring space
For you and you and you
Rest well, bright star
Whose generosity reminds us
We are not made substantial by what we have
We are golden
By nature of who we are.
Kathryn Yingst
8/27/26