holy weight

it's like me to put up a fight
eyes tired like dried up wells
water pump's been broke for years
stumbling down a dark dirt road
trembling thoughts read
"you don't know me yet"

we could move stones
drag driftwood across dirt
break chains and
crack our fists against ceramic
even after years of useless struggle
old thought would still burden me-
we sometimes worry.

in spite of this
ungodly
fear and shame
let's fill our mouths with
feathers
carve our limbs from oak
just to float
stretch out those palms
what a frightening wingspan!

river, hands and wooden trestle
bicycle spokes
cradling elbow
i've been dreaming up these things for years

i can see past
spindling trees
banks of snow
city lights

fragments of God
eyes blooming wide
oh,
holy weight
unraveling thread
pull back that curtain
that night sky and see,

tangled lungs
born
just
to
breathe.