That water that flows under the stillness of night
Where the fish drift listlessly in and out
The silver leaves of grass drooping in the glow
And the bone-colored remnants of frozen leaves
The grey sticks that lay like cancelled dreams
Where the stones are pondering eternity
The coldness of water that chills the ankles
And the bread baking in the oven for you
Dripping with garlic and butter and baking
The heater that keeps you warm
The Christmas tinsel that keeps the house cheerful
The knock of someone who loves you
The nuzzle of one who you cradle close
And lamps in the window at night
Where people pass by in hurried little ways
And you and I are snuggling
The chickens that scratch for their daily bread
And the earth when the frost hits the land
Dolls that gaze out with secret knowledge
For they are no longer alive
The reason I shiver when I think of the grave
And how much I want to hold you
Life is precious and without some little sticks
And a roof over our head and some dinner
Then you will start to cry because you have needs
Oh my little drummer boy
I'll hold you till my life is spent aged through
And to hell with the afterlife
To hell with that which told me to wait on
May we be happy here and now
May our tears fall welcome into the earth
And may you find peace here
A terrible thing has happened to me
The ownership of my whole person
And everything that I have is nothing
And all can be taken away from me
I am nobody, and all I love comes to nothing
For all of my mortal life
Is there really an inequality so great
That one never gets an answer from God
Do we all die with nothing in the end
Is everything taken away
In theory everyone is a nothing
And nobody really owns anything
You cannot take these things with you
When you eventually cease to exist
So why do they matter to us in life
At least I am a mother who loves you
At least I have a good heart
That follows with that which was taught
At least the life that I shelter
Is one that does not take
The wind blows from one end of the wall to the other
And lifts up the leaves in flight
That which is from another world
Does not agree with me
It says there is nothing but science
And in my heart there is so much more
So much truth that is so much greater
But then, they are smarter than me
And I am kinder than them
Isn't kindness what really matters
Maybe it is just enough to say
That a wren in the snow is a wren in the snow
Can't one thing take away from it
It is what it is, and little else
Oh take me into your arms
Take me itn the arms that loved me
With a heart that does not comdemn
And hold me with all the powers of heaven
My one and only friend
In Jesus' Name,
Amen

I sing the song of love that has been found
Of a prayer that has been answered
And every day forever on from now
I'll sing of what has been done for me
I'll get lost with you in space and time
And forget all my other dreams before you
I'll let everything slip away and lose its meaning
And in the end that is all there will be

The ballerinas dance as the winter wind blows
And the Ferris wheel creaks against the sky
The dolphins curb the murky cove
And the red crabs click their pincers together
The sea lions dive where children can see them
Especially tourists, if there are any left
And the castle puts out their finest napkin rings
On the long supper table that goes out like a moat
The Easter bunnies brush their grey whiskers
and wonder when dinner is coming
The peaches fall, thump, on the grass-padded ground
I'm laying here listening for your footfall
The long walk vigil across the walls of the castle
Are heavily trodden by soldiers
But people are hiding within walls of comfortable plaster
And living inside of them softly
In Jesus' Name,
Amen

The dragon lifted up his claw to the sky
And told me to look therein
Some mystery lies in this blanket
And the meadow grass growing still
Some cold of winter silently unfolding
To the undulating swing of the cosmos
"Lie still with me, and listen," he beckons
And so I lay against his paw and listen
The creaking of the attic swing
Where the flowers were once in your hair
And the star globe tells a deeper thing
That something is yet to be there
My heart a dove that loves you so
And all the world lay still
The mother hen in her soft bed lays
Clucking about what tomorrow brings
Tomorrow will bring tears, she mutters mournfully
Or tomorrow will bring joy
It is not up to us to decide what comes
Only how to endure it with grace
The dragon itches his nostril thoughtfully
And offers me some cookies
"I like people like you," he says quietly
And nuzzles closer
The vigil broods while we wait for our child
We need a little mouse to keep us company
Oh little boy blue, come over the hill
And greet us with your great serenity
In Jesus' Name,
Amen

"Nursery Vigil"
Under the still white light of night
I lay listening for your friendly rap
While my heart dives in and out of the sea
Where the berry bushes are twinkling in dew
And the roses nod off to sleep
They are too perfect and soft to understand
And for that they are blessed
The Nutcracker struggles to defend the house
Against darkness of all sort
It troubles him, the coming in and out
And the heaving and moving of some great destiny
But in his eyes there is great courage
And also as they say he is very little
The nutcracker is what a soldier should be
Defending the keep of his loved ones
All lonely vigil he solemnly keeps
No dropping of his sword
He protects me from things that sweep about
I know I'll always be safe here
And on the shelves, the lonely, dusty shelves
A story is now unfolding
Of a castle that lays beyond the clouds
Awaiting our arrival home
Or the lady that never gets asked to dance
Yet she is still suspended in happiness
The baby bunnies guarding the easter eggs
Or the lambs or teddies or ponies
Your dinner is waiting for you to come home
And brush the snow from the stoop
You've been out working for so long
You probably want to sleep
The boy in his blue breeches and little cap
Or the pink pony with the oceany blue mane
The bay pony with the saddle and bridle
And the appaloosa with his soft brown spots
Little fireplace is a hearth for your feet
And I'm waiting for your arrival
The jewelry doesn't look good on me
Because my hair is been shorn
But if it grows, you'll have me, a fine lady
To nibble dinner alongside you
We'll chomp and grin and throw our toys
With a yell because we're home
In Jesus' Name,
Amen

"Someday"
I  dropped the things I was carrying
When I saw you coming out of the water
Your hair was brushed across your forehead
And you were wearing silver armor
You looked lost and a little scared
And I ran towards you
I threw my arms around you
And knocked you backwards
I grinned at you and you grinned at me
And then we were grinning together
And buried my face in your hair
We looked at each other and we laughed
You rubbed my arm in disbelief
At the end of this story you'll find me
You'll find me like every good love story
Someday you and I will walk in the sun
We'll grin and laugh together
Someday
In Jesus' Name,
Amen

You must be fierce, and brave, and strong
I mutter to the fire
No one knows what comes after that
Only God Himself
You must suffer until you do not exist
And I must carry on
Till I too start suffering
Till I too die
By then it will be too late
The things you meant to do
Do them before the candle burns out
And I will do mine
My eyes crease with joy
When I see you still alive
A river of pain after that
A river that becomes an ocean
And nothing after that
And nothing for me but death
You must be very brave and strong
The suffering is to death
One day it will be gone
But not until then
In Jesus' Name,
Amen