once before
like this
it was
we waited near to dark
lifting up our prayers
my soul to keep
near it was
to almost
came the sun
one more amen
bruised to find the lesson
of our knees
forgiven to surrender
sure to lay me down
in shadows
where the cross
was just a tree
a canopy of sparrows
bursting full with blooms
rings beneath
the branches
a blessing to receive
heaven sent to find us
graces without end
love became the answer
to our pleas

. . .