OWL OF THE DESERT
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​
​Tithing Settlement

​And a wire basket piled high with chicken eggs:
little ones not much bigger than a robin’s
treasure.  Average ones, too, spotted brown
coated with fine feather down.  So many shells
have cracked from the weight.
Shall I deduct those?

And alfalfa left too long in the field,
cut just before a late wash in the rain
making a poor yield.  Tried leaving the wilted
leaves in the sun to dry out the mold
but it was all in vain. 

And my family’s horse, which pulled
faithfully all these years.  He is spavined
and mostly lame now.  The grandchildren
learned to ride on his sturdy back, fifteen hands
tall.  Take the saddle, tack: you may have it all
to satisfy the law.  

I won’t be needing a receipt.
Only
leave a little grain, some wheat
to plant in yonder plot where I can grow
old, and thresh upon Araunah’s floor
as my eyes close, feeling the seed
fall between my fingers.
If you take even this
I will have
nothing
left to
sow.

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  • Home
  • Poetry
    • Seven Stations of the Cross >
      • Jesus Condemned to Die >
        • Life Signs
        • Fashionable Religion
        • Tithing Declaration
        • A Pretty Important Detail
        • Jesus is All
        • Salt Lake Temple
        • Zion in the Lion's Den
        • High Noon
        • Bookmark
      • Jesus Stumbles and Falls >
        • Unveil
      • Simon of Cyrene Bears the Cross
      • Women of Jerusalem Weep
      • Jesus Stripped of His Garment
      • Jesus Nailed to the Cross
      • Burial and Resurrection
    • Fleeing Egypt >
      • Tower of Babel
      • The Orchard
      • Tithing Settlement
      • Chastity for Churches
      • Sign
      • Cleaning House
      • Elijah
      • Rulers of Sodom
      • Beware
      • Two Churches
      • Beginning At My Sanctuary
      • Toll Road
      • Get it Strait
      • Corporation Sole
      • The Religion of the Circle R
      • Fig Tree
      • Eve
      • New Jerusalem
      • Shemlon's Shore
    • Ascending Sinai >
      • Ark
      • Sin of the Calf
      • An Idol Observation
      • Dew from Heaven
      • I love you, Elder Holland
      • Easter
      • How Sweet
      • Haiku
      • The Barn
      • Patron Saint
      • A Conversation with Brigham Young
      • Mine Testimony
      • The Meadow
      • The Gardens
      • Ice Fishing
      • Without End
      • Forest
      • Continental Divide
      • A Great Sacrifice
    • Promised Land >
      • Lanolin
      • Zion
      • Wisdom
      • Take Up Your Cross
      • Was the Sun the Same
      • Plain and Precious
      • Bridegroom
      • Faith
      • Amos
      • But First
      • Wax
      • Parable of the Piano
      • Repentance
      • Wake Up, Child
      • Cold Storage
      • Covered Wagon
      • Multiply and Replenish
      • Rollercoaster
      • The Baptist
  • Blog
    • Previous Posts >
      • 2023 Posts
      • 2022 Posts
      • 2021 Posts
      • 2020 Posts
  • About
  • Contact