you were never in the military

The air was brisk and brittle that morning,

Frozen by news that came without warning,

We learned that six months can come all too quick

And a physician’s mouth can make you sick--

Too little time for all the plans we’d made,

But you wore the pin from that hand grenade

That the doctor pulled like a purple heart

You said each day was a fight to the death

In a war where lungs were stealing your breath

Your heartbeats were gunshots, less than precise

Munitions were low, but they would suffice

The enemy, slaying myriads ‘round

Was the lack of will to rise from the ground

And take one more step into the unknown

So when that fateful day came upon us

Unprepared for the end of this battle

We swore we’d contend in your honor

I’m sorry that we’re all such poor soldiers

She Who Must Be Loved

You were so young when he came for you--

Too young to understand what darkness meant;

You thought your nightlight and teddy bear were all the army you needed to guard you while you slept.

And though I was fire by night and cloud by day, ready to bring you to promise,

you chose exile.

But child, your story was yet to be sung.

He taught you what it was to quake

To sit so still you couldn’t shake your weary soul awake

Feet beating faster than your heart drew near, drawing fear from every pore

Muscles tightened, you bolted up like lightening shooting the sky,

Such wide eyes

My, what sharp claws he had.

Hands around your neck,

They were cold enough to burn through your very skin

and to ignite the spark of terror, the silent gunman triggering every fire alarm in the house

He showed you fear so sharp it made breaths look like needles

Don’t take one

Hold still, this is going to hurt.

Red like your blood,

White like your innocence, that sly fox wove his coat to look like mine

But he is not of Me. I am not of him. His den was deep, deep within the earth

And looking for new birth, you began to dig. He had a plan for you,

To travel

But your journey was to Me

Further up and further in,

he called you, oh so sweetly toward the depths that lay beneath.

By firelight you saw one night that vixen’s vile teeth. His smile, still so charming,

‘til you looked beneath the fur and glimpsed the claws you knew so well.

Cold razors.

They wouldn’t hold you again.

Eyes now open, ears to hear,

I called you—follow. My world is upside down, so dig as you may,

the farther you run, the closer you’ll find yourself. Reach down one last time,

Push away the earth to find me. Fingers reaching heavenward like roots,

Or like leaves;

Grow child, climb.

Arms strong from tunneling,

Pull yourself up onto emerald fields and be free, breathe.

Dance like a kit in the grass. You are safe here. Behold, I make all things new.

Look up toward the sky. Open wide. I will fish out all of the dark in you.

Cast it away.

You are new, daughter of light.

So follow, beautiful one. There is a world to see and much work to be done.

Planted

Born into a world of death

Swift incision in my chest

Doctor placed within my heart

A seed to break my ribs apart

lift

50 feet of string,

darting and diving

inhaling clouds like flame eats fire

ever leaving,

ever drawing near

i wish i could see things the way you do

for one minute

your chest is proud and lungs are full

unafraid of the gusts that eddy this falling leaf

hold your key tight,

don’t blink when the lightening strikes

i’ll learn from you yet, kite

i’ll learn from you yet

The River

Standing in the river,

Ears tuned to the sound of silence,

She waits

For someone to deliver her broken ribs

From breathing the lies of an urban world

Her hair is a wheat-field,

Caressed by autumn’s whispering

She stares,

Knowing that the heron has found the freedom

To leave all that it has known for new winds

Tattered clothes, no makeup,

Looking down as she is washed clean

She hopes.

The great blue pushing her legs, inviting her

Into cold embrace and faithful friendship

Eyes closed, her heart beats still.

Felled like a beautiful willow,

She yields.

Eyes open to see the swift, sweet water

Engulf her wholly, heavy and holy

  

   

    

     

      

       

She breathes.