grace

grace
is the name of a girl
in the words of a boy

when feeling content
at the moment of loss

knowing all play was fair
believes all things are possible

it makes me cry in the morning
gives me peace at goodbye

holding you with an open hand
receiving your love without conditions

asking for more on my side of the altar
embracing my solitude just being with you

singing Hannah’s song after giving you up
glimpsing Job’s patience soaked in your hospitality

not getting what I want
yet wanting what I have

still believes the power of hope
and sees the colours after the rain

grace
is still the name of a girl
after the words of a boy

Ode to Willie Nelson

a concert of choices
composed of desires
scattered across the Canadian prairie

at the end of a season
touring detours of faith
tremors through body, soul and mind

backstage pass leading
to answered questions
new melodies call from the future

six, seven, eight years
along heaven’s score
returning the music to me

birth

moving into life
crossing the dimension of eternity into flesh
your tiny body known to me
before your first breath outside water

watching you grow and play and laugh
hearing your mother sob next to your hospital bed
loosing her future dreams for her boy
seeing you overcome pain, restraint and fear

struggling to find your balance again

moving into life
crossing the dimension of normal into special
your broken body known to me
before your first step on earth

listening to your music and jokes and cries
absorbing thoughtless words, pitiful stares
growing new visions inside your head of far away places, solutions and life
watching you fly and dive and glide into hearts and mountains and dreams

needing to find space for your courageous chest with its powerful heart

moving into life
crossing the dimension of boy to man
your mature body known to me
before your first kiss on her hand

tasting your lonely tears in the snow
storing your faithful prayers on my timeline for your life
opening your mind’s eye to needs and hurts of those yet unseen
preparing your mind with words and works and wars

creating a hunger in your soul that I will satisfy

the session

two and a half hours at six units each
two for eyes
two for ears

pixels flash and blur and glow
thoughts of heart and mind and soul

cautious truths and shameless sins
mixed with jest, concern and grace

two and a half hours at six units each
two for cherries
two for lilies

midges bug, dead bears concur
dad pops by to grunt ‘hallo’

questions drift upon the tide
heaving pillows waves ebb and high

two and a half hours at six units each
two for fear
two for faith

spring time sun, falling night
southern light, a northern moon

dawning dreams with passport stamps
searching clues along life’s map

two and a half hours at six units each
two for hope
two for joy

conflicts fly, battles end
blood and love will comprehend

mother moose, Father God
hunter grows from sand and snow

two and a half hours at six units each
one for me
one for you
becoming friends