Amputated Moon

O amputated moon

half the woman you once were

hanging in an early morning sky

emptying yourself of light

Prayer

the light in the sanctuary is dim

blues and shadows play

as the flickering votives are lit

alone without distractions

I call out to the Holy

echoes and light

splinter around the cross

wheels and wings in the air

as the world around

molders in want and need

You alone remain in the end

Word that punctuates silence

Manna

traveling along the border country

not here and not there

lost in shadows of almost

I heard God speaking in Spanish

brown hands with knuckles swollen

working the dough with care

angels glowing in the sunset

grinding wheat into fine flour

fetching water in pitchers of cool stone

she spoke to me in her holy language

of foreign manna and living water

her dark eyes meeting mine

I took and ate

lowered my head for her blessing

and then journeyed on