bow down with darkened heart
arise light-headed,
acclimating to illumination

engulfed in a storm,
whipped by wisps

lashes of Light
look down on me in a merciful eye

Triune of light,
three beams coalesce as One
shine down radiant understanding
and make light work of heavy burdens

holy suspension of disbelievers
remembered dust found in the spotlight of Your grace

pierced by striations of divinity,
penitent droplets cast refractory remnants into eternity
crowned with prismatic halos of mercy and compassion

incremental suspension
steeped in attitudinal altitudes
feelings electric,
static clings, draws closer,
draws near

kinetic swatches shine
burning brighter, bolder, better
held back, holding tight
to what I hold dear

quickened and fastened
by taking things slowly
trying to be better,
better yet,
better still

peeking out behind blinders,
blink away tears
two pupils of affection learning to see with new eyes

fingerpick heartstrings,
plucking chords holding hands
marionettes interlaced, flitting, strung up from on high

a hardened heart pressures spiritual detritus
ashes make charcoal I cling to for comfort
flammable riches,
my pride a stockpile of darkness
enlightened and lit from a spark up above

deign to enter my soul with footsteps made ******
palpitations afraid of the weight of Your presence
I tremble and wince at transgressions made malleable
what I thought were good bones,
brittle calcified sins

buckle and give to cleansing by fire,
almsgiving of flames burn me straight to my core
an allowance of dwelling I can never repay
save my corporeal mortgage from defaulting to form

fog of spiritual warfare,
nous blinded by soot
biding time, I pray for mutual abiding
gasping for breath and grasping for life,
I flee from the perishing smolders of self

I'd like some sugar in my tea:
souvenir of sweetness,
saccharine delight

remind me of simpler, cloying times
nostalgia bittersweet,
a peachy respite

ubiquitous stanzas,
grounded community
found in the perforations we leave

lips parted,
professing shared sorrows still joyous
threaded within tapestries we weave