It’s after a long night of marching up and down

those black-white syncopated keys singing the alphabets of heaven

(that cut my voice a sharper edge, a windswept whisper)

it’s after these nights as the dawn inches closer into my eyes

that I become Tender-er to your Love,

keen on its angles, corners, shadows and expansive coverings.

I plead mercy and grace and dig 

Ankle deep knee deep waist deep into this desert land 

Along this wall stand ankle deep knee deep waist deep

A shield of faith on my left, living words wielding my right

I watch for the rivers and rains to come

         I believe the rivers and the rains will come

         I believe the rivers and the rains will come

Father, give us words like arrows to pierce hearts to tender bleeding

We’ll breathe life into these dry bone valleys, thunder a jubilation, a reformation

heart, mouth, light, seed, with speed

what are the veins you travel

to reach me to the mystery place

Take this grain of earth 

Drop it into my mouth between my tongue and teeth,

I’ll savor and roll its mulberry-drenched ripeness,

Like a resounding 

friction between the muscles and beats of my heart,

Roll and chew this seed

Hoping beyond hope it becomes a pearl, one day,

That welcomes a soul back Home