Pantoum for Coming Alive
Good is waiting just under the surface.
Wind and water are secret agents,
layer by layer by layer: a subversive
erosion mission of mercy with patience.
Wind and water are secret agents
scrubbing the stone that keeps out the light,
erosion mission of mercy with patience
bringing the buried up into life.
Scrubbing the stone that keeps out the light
airy expanse vibrates violence.
Bringing the buried up into life
churns massive upheaval in increments.
Airy expanse vibrates violence
in lungs that have lost the muscle of breath–
churns massive upheaval in increments,
searing pain with every stretch.
In lungs that have lost the muscle of breath,
life is always shocking to what’s dead,
searing pain with every stretch.
“Leave nothing behind,” Jesus said.
Life is always shocking to what’s dead.
“So, then, unwrap stumbling Lazarus;
leave nothing behind,” Jesus said.
Coming alive is hazardous.
So, then, unwrap stumbling Lazarus,
layer by layer by layer. A subversive
coming alive is hazardous
good, is waiting just under the surface.