Power in the Blood Fall colors in ancient forests. A river reflects the sky. And blood tendrils through the water. Things unseen can change the world forever. |
Sinking Sand The dancers whirl and posture, off-balance, half a step behind. At first I think they cannot dance. I am wrong: they move to different music. |
Living Water The bucket stands on the counter. Moisture beads its galvanized sides. It holds the water, central to survival. And it is forbidden. |
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Iris Iris stands in her kitchen, her Siamese cat draped around her shoulders.She's just taken a pan of cinnamon rolls out of the oven; an apple pie cools by the window. Comfort. |
The Old Rugged Cross Salvation wasn't free. We paid in money, and in blood. And still we came up short. |
Wonderful Words of Life Ah, Revival Meetings! We sat in our spongies while the evangelist threatened us with the Good News--eternal damnation unless we did things his way. |
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The Lost Sheep I had a trashy aunt. She sunbathed naked, and took married men home sometimes. She was lost, but she knew how to laugh. |
Bringing in the Sheaves Uniform, neat stubble, bloody remains. In the Lord's harvest fields it was safest to keep a low profile. The cost of salvation could be very, very high. |
Blest Be the Ties We were bound by powerful ties of fear, guilt, pain, and secrecy. From the outside we looked close, united, ideal. Inside we were strangling. |
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In the Garden I grew up damned, guilt, pain, and depression my sins. "Read your Bible," my parents advised. "Christians are happy." I dreamed of death. |
I'll Fly Away Salvation came by accident. Learning my parents lied broke the family ties strangling me. At first I thought I would die. And then I saw I was free. |
Galoshes and Bumbershoots I broke the rules. I had a son. I discovered what it is to love. I had feared motherhood. And it was the saving of me. My son taught me joy. |
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Baking Day Yeast and flour. Clean hands in warm dough. A hot oven. Crusty bread dripping melted butter on an autumn day. Some things never change. |
Soul Food In giving him a happy childhood, I have learned to feed my own soul. Every child deserves a happy mother. |
Streets of Gold Because I have seen joy, I recognize it glinting like jewels in my dark past--and I see the strength surviving taught. I am who I am because of what was. And it's good. |
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