Unspeakable
We see this inside out plague
That reeks of stigma and stench
Yet it is among us silently
Passing and moving
Mutating and causing retching
We want it at arm’s length
And yet it is so near
In our mother’s milk
In the baby’s blood
Drowning in the gutter
We are pushed to reality
And it is painful
This virus
This thing
This pandemic
Is taking our generations
And leaving a wake of orphaned ones
They challenge change
They implore us to move
We can no longer lay in silence
Expecting things to run their course
In his grizzled hands I feel a hard life
In her toothy smile I see a soft soul
In his throaty laugh I hear love
In her searching eyes and paralyzed body I see suffering
In my weak heart lives His love
I will pour it out until their parched lives are drenched
We seek courage and run empty at times
Yet we have no other choice but to rise up
Get up and push back reality
With a hug
With a smile
With a shared meal
With a savior’s love
This plague will not beat us
It will define us
And shape us
From the inside out
Forsythia I am driving in my car and swerving to avoid potholes I see the yellow of forsythia creeping out Amidst the brown sides of the road winter created The sun is rising to meet the white sky By the time I am down on the main road the horizon will be pink You are in everything and the errands try to drown You out List-making provides only small gratification I see You in the spring changes Plump robins hop in the brown grass What will be will be The seasons will rotate And Your character is shown Creator of all things And Lover of all Shine on us with Your love Today and in all seasons to come Block the distractions and paint our minds with Your purposes I sit in traffic and see the black trees etched against the sky and think of You Picturing them green and lush Observing the buds waiting to burst Warm days are so different from the cold that makes us scurry I see You in the spring changes G. Townsend, 03-29-07