Message In a Dark Glass

On a Sunday evening, the sun bows down.
A blue cedar kisses greenish water.
Green seeds from large maple trees
float on wrinkled mirrors.
The wind whispers through the trees.

The trees themselves
cast telling shadows—green and then brown.
Then finally the young priest comes.

Several women walk back and forth,
bowing their heads.  Are they at prayer?
A girl on the shore wears a bed-sheet.
And what do we say of the newly-bap-

tized?  By God’s grace, this child has life?
So where is her mother?
Come to think of it:  Where are the men?
Do they know the meaning of springtime flowers?

Shall we mention the Savior?

first published in Voices of Mercy (UK)