Monday, August 25, 2014

Sexton




The shutters are open,
there are no curtains.

Stop.  Look through the dark pane.
Find simple sanctuary without icon or lace,

a congregation of one, who has forgotten
how to pray.  Come.  Listen.

Take up residence, sweep away the dust;
expose silent eyes, deep wits.  

Light a candle.  Line the sills with potted geraniums.
Stay.  Long enough to see them grow.

Be the sexton who makes supper of thoughts,
whisks a fluffy omelet of the past.

Sing.  Something that sounds like a hymn,
what ships and stones might say.

Dote on my still possible body,
the soft secret structure of worship.



tk/August 2014



R.A.D. Stainforth takes my words to the next level ...





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17 comments:

  1. KayMon Aug 25, 08:01:00 AM

    be still my beating heart..this is glorious.......x

    ReplyDelete
  2. 21 WitsMon Aug 25, 12:55:00 PM

    Your words play from an instrument I had not seen within this artful piece, and as your words played on, I welcomed your artful, exploration enjoyably so!

    ReplyDelete
  3. humbirdMon Aug 25, 02:18:00 PM

    Ah, this next level of possibilities...

    ReplyDelete
  4. Carrie Van HornMon Aug 25, 05:44:00 PM

    A beautiful plea...a gorgeous write Tess!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. steveroniMon Aug 25, 07:14:00 PM

    Ya know, I feel and "hear" that you--whether realizing it or not--Tess, write with the "voice" in mind. I don't really need to listen to him, b/c I a
    ctually "hear" his words spoken as I read!
    LOVE IT ALL! Picture this week is WOW!

    ReplyDelete
  6. AnonymousMon Aug 25, 11:16:00 PM

    "Stop. Look through the dark pane." ... I love this line. And the last two.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Susan AndersonTue Aug 26, 02:04:00 AM

    Have I mentioned that you're rather good at this?

    ;)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Sumana RoyTue Aug 26, 08:34:00 AM

    "Be the sexton who makes supper of thoughts"...all the words seem to say this line in so many ways. ...fantastic...

    ReplyDelete
  9. Stacy M.S.Tue Aug 26, 09:36:00 AM

    this is mesmerizing, tess. you literally make me want to go stand beneath the stars!

    stacy lynn mar
    warningthestars.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  10. PokeyTue Aug 26, 10:04:00 AM

    Excellent writing! Love it:) Thanks for sharing.

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  11. MaryTue Aug 26, 12:54:00 PM

    'whisks a fluffy omelet of the past' ... great wordplay, Tess. I love how you capture the essence of time in your writing. Well done.

    ReplyDelete
  12. WayneWed Aug 27, 01:24:00 AM

    Well done Tess..thanks for sharing

    ReplyDelete
  13. Silent Otto Wed Aug 27, 06:54:00 AM

    and the insomniac Nietzsxhe was able to continue to conceal his dirty little secret ...that he liked to stroll the fields at night and paint , all the universe was his canvas , though the stars were almost obliterated ......

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  14. James BrushWed Aug 27, 01:44:00 PM

    Wonderul. I love the one-word imperatives and how they slow the pacing of this beautiful poem. "what ships and stones might say" is great... to know the unknowable. Wonderful read.

    ReplyDelete
  15. AnonymousThu Aug 28, 01:26:00 AM

    Tess, you know how to hit me right in the face, you know that?

    "a congregation of one, who has forgotten
    how to pray. Come. Listen." JUST BRILLIANT!

    Love and Light, S

    ReplyDelete
  16. philSat Aug 30, 01:53:00 PM


    pssst. go buy some blackout curtains. :P

    ReplyDelete
  17. Anita SabatMon Sep 01, 07:52:00 AM

    Love & worship. Nice words here :)

    ReplyDelete

Inject a few raisins of conversation into the tasteless dough of existence.
― O. Henry (and me)

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