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In that house of quiet dying, through still sheers that
turn
the day to gray,
only two chairs of six are sat upon, the bed
no longer shared.

She smiles, a 5 x 10 on the television top,
he laughs, a young man upon the mantle.
But, air unmoving from dining room to kitchen
old woman watches TV alone,
old man breathes slow upon his bed. 

Pink and gold, crochet and arches,
tiled fireplace cold,
her vision turns to water in one eye,
his hand shakes too much to sign.
Each black night follows each day’s gray.

Camille S. Williams

Dear Reader,

You have a decision to make: double or nothing.

For this week only, a generous supporter has offered to fully match all new and increased donations to First Things up to $60,000.

In other words, your gift of $50 unlocks $100 for First Things, your gift of $100 unlocks $200, and so on, up to a total of $120,000. But if you don’t give, nothing.

So what will it be, dear reader: double, or nothing?

Make your year-end gift go twice as far for First Things by giving now.
GIVE NOW