I
Our Father simultaneously far & near
my insufficient fear could never drive me
to dive deep as Titanic
on the wide Atlantic’s floor
for there’s nowhere to hide
or if I tried an astro-Jonah
scooting to some far star
that’s where you’d be
especially for me since you’ve made
a walking temple of this aging cage of bones
that could never contain you
& though your notorious silence
shakes the last leaf from my tree
I can’t push you from my consciousness
stress only what I see
for this shrivelling balloon of a world
would be so hollow in your absence
& my only escape from blame
would seep away
Hallowed be your name
II
We pray for what is & what will be your divinity
spreading kingdom seed into its valuable dying
so that what is grows & so reality
subtracts our macro–negativity from our micro–good & so
our mess doesn’t mess with your sovereignty
as if it ever could
III
Give us this day bread
with strawberry jam
even if made by our own hands
for though I worked for coins
to buy flour
& I worked the dough before
it went into the pan
& I helped hull berries for
the slow rolling hosanna
without sun & rainshower
there’d be no grain
or berries ripening in rows
We shall not live by bread alone
but by every sweet jewel
of Christ
IV
I know my mind forges manacles & the keys
my heart jingles are slow
to click in those rusty locks so the miry sorrow
of those who’ve wronged me
will be a swamp they must wallow in
May we release ourselves
as you have already released us
for it’s not until the last chain falls away that we go free
V
Lead us not into sensation but deliver us from
revealing what we think proves us right
Uncover our hiding Rip sunglasses
from our faces our defence
against sunlight on into the night
Spit on our eyes or pluck them right out
to be made new & without offense
Amen
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Enjoyed your poems very much. Different styles of writing, but very encouraging. May the Lord Jesus richly bless and encourage you in your life for Him. John M S Neufeld
Don – very interesting Midrash – and delightful to learn that you are poet in residence!
Here’s the link to a slideshow I prepared for a virtual chapel at McMaster Divinity College of this poem, featuring Eric Crow’s artwork.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysn7zlMCbto&feature=youtu.be&ab_channel=D.S.Martin
Don