*** Talking with God ***
I feel us
Slowly shaking our heads
In unison,
With our delicious
slight smiles
Of shared understanding:
Much like the Mona Lisa’s
(a bit less than fully amused),
As we recount
The long list I offer:
Of my unthinking;
My mistaking; too
Impatient reacting;
Discounting; and
Ingratitudes.
All the opaque bits.
Transcending through
The thickness of
the rising
of invisible air:
All around me
And within me, revealing
In my downcast and glistening eyes…
Woe! My Awe stretches out
Prostrate,
To hear — first
As a chuckle —
The soft laughter of Abba saying,
“Child. Silly daughter.
No longer a crawling babe,
You stand still swaddled in
The tapestry woven
By the days of the many decades
you’ve lived, with
All your errs and joys
Becoming the frayed threads
I will re-weave within you beside me…
Silly daughter, hold
My hand, for age has brought
You back around to needing
Help to walk, and
There are just as many
Lessons yet to learn.
Observe!
Even the stars are
Held in place.”
———————————————————-
(c) sally young eslinger 2/13/22
Thanks be to God
Categories:
ingratitudes, age, christian, father daughter,
Form: Free verse
Premiered at The Break Horse Inn, Imperial Beach, CA – 12/9/1996
ACT 1
Tubal Cain’s Bedtime Chant
Haircut
Ballad of an Honest Man
Ingratitudes
Loaves and Fishes
Glory of the Word
ACT 2
It Was I
The Consequence of WE
Rachel’s Kitchen
Bedouin Eyes
Buthaynah Adara
Egyptian Cotton
ACT 3
Baby Blues
Play Date
Herself
Sky Full of Rain
Pretty Little Engine
Forest Lullaby
Wee Small Hours
When I’m Just a Memory
Categories:
ingratitudes, allegory, music,
Form: List
And seeing the multitudes,
He went up into a Starbucks,
And when he was set,
His constituents came unto him:
And he opened his mouth,
And taught them, saying;
Blessed are the poor in spirit,
For theirs is the smallest of tax breaks.
Blessed are they that mourn,
For they shall be down in the polls.
Blessed are the meek,
For they shall be bullied by lobbyists.
Blessed are they which do hunger
And thirst after righteousness,
For they shall be indicted.
Blessed are the merciful,
For they shall be subpoenaed.
Blessed are the pure of heart,
For they shall seem odd.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
For they shall be called especially odd.
Blessed are they who are persecuted
For righteousness’ sake,
For theirs is the briefest of tenures.
Blessed are ye, when men shall say
All manner of evil against you
Falsely; it’s their game.
Lament and be exceedingly sad,
For such is the promise of Congress.
Categories:
ingratitudes, political,
Form: Blank verse