My Passion

You are the fire of a thousand stars,
you are the rivers of the earth.
You are the tears of Samson’s blind eyes,
you are cathedral spires in rainy London.

Your heart bleeds dark with silent love;
it sprinkles slivered glass–no more seen
than raindrops, and no less felt–
memoirs of pain catching the sun’s rays,
and shimmering light through your eyes,
and into your long night.

You are the creaking of the boughs
In deep winter, crisp and laden.
You are the cry on Jeptha’s lips,
You are the blood on Zion’s streets.
You are my root and spire,
my dagger and my shield,
my thorn and my crown,.
You are joy and sorrow,
Mixing in this cosmic bowl,
giving laughter and silence to all.