Silent Prayer (A Sonnet)

They tell us that the spirit prays

with groans more rich than words,

while tongues of fire, dove-winged birds

could shatter heaven any day,

and we are quickened by that grace,

and strive to trace the inward

wind that shatters chaos into chords

and sculpts earth’s dust into a face.

Yet you still wait in stony care—

no morning breaks upon your eyes;

you guard a grave, no peace atones

for all the nights you have watched here:

waiting for the dead to rise

to the shouts of interceding stone.

 

If you'd like to see the picture that inspired this poem, click here.

Homecoming (A Poem)

Yesterday I received a brochure for Carson-Newman's 2012 Homecoming celebrations, and that put me in mind of the entry I wrote after attending Homecoming last year (read that entry here; it is one of my favorites). At the same time, a friend invited me to attend UM's "Thursday Club," in which students and faculty gather to read and write poetry. This was my offering today: 

“Homecoming”

This time we’ll not chase fireflies to fill our jars with short-lived lights,

Nor burn our candles at both ends and crowd the walls with shadow-play.

Instead we’re seeking oil for our trimmed and polished lamps.

Our waiting is a pilgrimage: we have not come to stay.