A Prayer of the Confined

mercifully divine

jar awake

unresponsive bodies soaked in lethargy

pull us from the voyeurism of electronic connections

wrench our eyes away from the comforting warm, blue light

enable us to follow the octothorpe stayathome

bring us to the present

where we can see the dark liminal space

bound by disruption and chaos

in our homes

we sit and gaze out windows

aware

so much has happened

enough to fill a paperback, or two

still

we trust in the simple beauty

of gull white clouds and

invisible breath brushed wind chimes

because the absence of faith renders us empty

leaving only mysteries to be investigated

longing for answers reminds us that

Freud may have told us that an eggplant is never truly an eggplant

but belief in the resurrection of the body

is not an erotic confusion between muscle, sinew, and bone

it is a celestial gift you spoke through the prophets.

as we wait for doctors to pick up the Rod of Asclepius

to part the Corona Sea

and place physical distancing in the bin

we remember eating at your table

with wine and bread shared in communion with others

because the bootlegged sacrament we practice now is hallow

nudge us to remember that you

Mothering God

perceive the world through a creator lens

seeing sadness, and bliss, in the gray emerging dawn

hearing anger, and exaltation, in the song of a bird’s halleluiah chorus

tasting wine, and vinegar, in crushed grapes

be with us now

as we rest in the valley

awaiting the breaking open of the world

Amen