OWL OF THE DESERT
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Wake Up, Child


  ​(For Tara)   

     Magic
is exploring a neighborhood
park at midnight
 
breathing the forbidden
post-curfew air, whirling
in fog between honey locusts
 
playing tag with our secrets
we hide-and-seek
hoping to be found

swinging high―
so high the stars are
blotted out by our bare toes
 
not knowing where or why
not caring who or how
embracing darkness's gift

uncertainly facing each other
round and round
the merry-go-round
 
we laugh fumbling thru
     Eternity
is to feel
 
the thing least expected
made real:
the surprise of flesh, 

of love that comes suddenly
the way lawn sprinklers
spring to life, startling us

we shout, fresh-cut grass
clinging to our ankles, holding
     Joy

is a sleight of hand,
awakening to the smell
of sourdough pancakes

sitting on kitchen stools
watching each other
sprinkle chocolate chips

onto our griddle cakes
     is God
whispering in our ears at midnight,
​
     “Wake up, Child,
     the park
     awaits.”
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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