A tent is a refuge

After Psalm 61

Tent: a place to rest,

a place to take refuge

from the desert storm,

wind raging and sand

scouring, the tent

offering a respite,

a shelter, the shelter

of huddling under

the wings of the great eagle,

the eagle who hears

the cries of the voice,

the cries of the heart,

swooping low to rescue

from the storm as it rages.

We soar above it,

protected.

Photograph by Karl JK Hedin via Unsplash. Used with permission.

A rock is a hard place

After Psalm 61

Running across burning sands,

pursued by darkness, I see

the rock looming ahead,

stark and jagged as it thrusts

upward, casting its column

of shade to defy the burning 

sun. a rock in the desert,

a tower. The rock is cold

in the heat; the rock is hard

in the soft sand,

A rock is a hard place,

when a hard place is 

the need, a hard place

of refuge, or protection,

a hard place to provide

safety, a rescue from peril,

the peril of enemies,

the peril of self.

Photograph by Pablo Garcia Saldana via Unsplash. Used with permission.

Outside the tent

After Psalm 61

Outside the tent is the storm,

a whirlwind of sand and grit

etching skin and heart;

inside a silence and light,

cushioned and pillowed, 

food and drink, a place

away from the tearing,

the noise, the deafening

of the storm. Inside the tent

the storm no longer is,

dispelled and flicked away,

a memory erased.

Photograph by asoggetti via Unsplash. Used with permission.

The eagle

After Psalm 61

I watched it circle

in front of the sun,

the heat searing.

I watched it flying

high, swooping low,

soaring and descending,

coming closer to my form

in the sand.

The sun was darkened

as it flew closer, so close

I could hear feathers

and wings pushing 

against the wind, so close

I smelled the scent

of heated feathers, so close

I was wrapped in shade,

the shelter of wings,

and I thought

the eagle had landed.

Photograph by Mathew Schwartz vis Unsplash. Used with permission.

Counting the words

After Psalm 61

Counting the words

and descriptions

explained and listed,

a rock

a tower

a refuge

a tent

a shelter

and it continues:

a heritage

a presence

a love

a faithfulness

all of these words

these realities to embrace

these metaphors taking shape

on the plain consumed

by fire,

these words equating protection

these words defining safety

these words wrapping around,

surrounding.

Photograph by Enoc Valenzuela via Unsplash. Used with permission.

Inside the tower

After Psalm 61

Inside the tower,

the place yearned for

and found

hearing the noise

outside, the shouts,

feeling the ground

shaking, but safe

inside the tower,

the door tightly 

closed and firm

a barrier against

the hordes, outside;

safety is found

inside the tower,

only there,

only there.

Photograph by Nathan Dumlao via Unsplash. Used with permission.

At the edge

After Psalm 61

Teetering at the edge,

to look behind is to see

      the darkness, deep,

an abyss of the unknown. 

To feel resolve

      

      ebbing, courage

diminishing, strength

dribbling away leaving

     a husk, a shell,

a piece of chaff, prepared

to blow away at wind’s

     first hint, teetering

calling out in weakness,

teetering, slipping away,

     reaching for the rock

     the refuge as the rock

     the refuge reaching out

     to accept

     to embrace.

Photograph by Leio McLaren via Unsplash. Used with permission.