Another Psalm of Gratitude

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I had planned to write today another gratitude psalm
another song of redemption that told again the story
of how I was snatched from death and delivered broken
into my woman’s hands to be covered in the balm
of children’s kisses but what jubilation is there to sing
o o o go the sorrow songs sung by heavy hearts
I walk through the churchyard to lay this body down
I will sing instead of young men who throw themselves
in the way of bullets of how he went to judgement
in the evening of the day & was found righteous
yes yes yes he laid his body down laid it down
in the sanctuary I will sing instead of grandmothers
& great-grandmothers sing of the holiness of the elders
of how their laps hold the young how their arms gather in
pull close to body reach up & spread out to protect
of how they lie in the grave & stretch out still their arms
o they know moon-rise they know star-rise
they walk in the moonlight they walk in the starlight
I will sing instead of librarians & pastors & coaches
sing of their wonderful works of love & life
sing of how they nurtured the word & bodies
sing of how the knowledge of God is the giving of self
sing of their civility their democracy their charity
their hope & faith & love of how they died with prayer on their lips
instead my soul will sing of their soul & how they laid their bodies down

245 thoughts on “Another Psalm of Gratitude”

  2. Rae Cobbs

    I admire how your poem seems to abandon your original focus, also your keen observation of form and events–but it ends up being inventive and pertinent, as always. I find that reading poems early in the day is like breathing deeply in a sanctuary, and yours rises like a spontaneous, unspoken prayer. Thank you for your voice!

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  5. Allison Thorpe

    I didn’t get to comment on all your poems, but I have been enjoying the positive outlook you infuse on subject and self. I get inspired by your healing, your sharing, and your sharp pencil.

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