(a poem composed in the final year of grad school, 2017)
I’ve taken him to a better place
this child of God
who wandered
like the children of Israel
to a forbidden space
You look at me like Uzzah
but I’m just a Kohathite
transporting the holy things
from your tent of meeting
to the ark of Jehovah
I’ve marched through the Red Sea
parted for the dearly departed
flesh and bone and skin and blood
collected and stacked
an altar of remembrance for thee
You approached the burning bush
how could there be fire
when we see no smoke?
You ask like I have a voice
I’m just the messenger’s hush
We approached sacred ground together
this womb in the desert
look closely—the wilderness
fingerprints of His righteous hand
ready to hold you forever.
r. ward 