This enforced sabbath

how often we don’t notice
how the heart keeps beating
and the nerves keep tingling
the lower back and its consistency
the knees, absorbent
the eyes, never dormant,
how the sun razes the tiny hairs on your cheek
how sweet it is to run nowhere
how the clouds doze in the sky
and the trees pose beneath.
THE BIRDS! THE BIRDS!
how they sing, without the noise
of horns, beeps and exhausts.
neighbours, and how routines almost sync
how we wake up and get hungry.
how uncomplicated eggs are,
how exquisite olive oil is
and the simple delight of bread.
This is how we rest.

Wrestle

At seventeen, I saw kinship in Ecclesiastes
for I struggled with myself.
At twenty two, I sank in the Gospels
for I struggled with the devil.
Now i’m older, i live in Genesis
for i wrestle with God

and i hope to lose.