A cardinal
From The Sparrow and the Lily
A cardinal
tucks wing and
dives.
Chirping a
reminder, “beloved.”
A breeze
lifts the
quilt of
morning.
Weighted and thick and
pushed to the edges.
A breeze
sneaks in the side, “beloved.”
A rain
begins
in misty sheets. Slowly.
A bird sings, “beloved.”
A tree
over against
the horizon
twists and shouts
in response.
The sun smiles
in friendly accommodation.
The sky, blue
above the prairie, “beloved.”
Even Here: A Poem of Advent
From Even Here
Among the rooftops
of this mountain city
while peaked sentinels
stand erect and attentive
to the north; waiting.
The sun rises and the valley erupts
with chant and song, a distant drum,
every single and singular morning
summoning its gods; waiting.
And would you even come
to every valley?
In this very valley
would you dwell
and even here
come be our King?
What is my great life project but to be loved?
From The Hardest Thing
What is my great
life project
but to
be loved?
Belovedness is
my great accomplishment.
My fame and
success in
the quiet
embrace.
The refusal
to be widely
known. The
turn from smiles
of approval and
acclaim.
And instead the
small hidden
place of love.
To strive for that
place. To organize
a lifetime towards
that embrace.
Will take a lifetime
of quiet. And
maybe more.