The Preacher
The church bell rang
and he declaimed Jesus
S.W. — Samuel Watson Thornton
declaimed Jesus in his sweat.
A Noah’s flood
poured from his face
awash in energy,
in power; as the message
required the rising attention
of his handkerchief
to clean the way like sins
washed away by Jesus’ grace.
The cotton shirt became his chest
and Jesus came from his mouth,
his heart, his body, his soul
declaimed Jesus ever and again
each Sunday morning, evening service,
and at Wednesday prayers.
The service ends.
Mary has levitated the piano
through the last verse of the last hymn.
John has given the prayer,
and Sam has read the Scripture.
Seed corn caps at their sides,
farmers bring forth testimony
of the day’s grace.
A few times around the church,
in and out of the dark,
chasing and listening
to the clamor of insects
and nighthawks gliding;
in and out of the careening bats;
back into the street lamp,
chatting adults talk of tomorrow
and us in and out of the dark.
Lansing
July 4, 2004
Greenfield Series
©2004 The Preacher — Joseph W. Yarbrough
Reproduction prohibited without written permission.
and he declaimed Jesus
S.W. — Samuel Watson Thornton
declaimed Jesus in his sweat.
A Noah’s flood
poured from his face
awash in energy,
in power; as the message
required the rising attention
of his handkerchief
to clean the way like sins
washed away by Jesus’ grace.
The cotton shirt became his chest
and Jesus came from his mouth,
his heart, his body, his soul
declaimed Jesus ever and again
each Sunday morning, evening service,
and at Wednesday prayers.
The service ends.
Mary has levitated the piano
through the last verse of the last hymn.
John has given the prayer,
and Sam has read the Scripture.
Seed corn caps at their sides,
farmers bring forth testimony
of the day’s grace.
A few times around the church,
in and out of the dark,
chasing and listening
to the clamor of insects
and nighthawks gliding;
in and out of the careening bats;
back into the street lamp,
chatting adults talk of tomorrow
and us in and out of the dark.
Lansing
July 4, 2004
Greenfield Series
©2004 The Preacher — Joseph W. Yarbrough
Reproduction prohibited without written permission.