063. morning
2008
Language does not primarily convey.
Saying creates.
Laws are simple examples.
A judge says, guilty,
or a bride says, I do,
and a thing comes to exist.
As the power of the speaker increases,
it’s harder to find
a statement that does not
change the world.
The matriarch says, It’s chilly.
A son closes the door.
The astronaut says,
We have a problem.
Engineers feel adrenaline.
The President says, I suspect.
A nation is destroyed.
God said, Let there be light.
God called the dry land Earth.
In the mouth the Sovereign,
the Word lives.
To say, “Take up your bed,” is to heal.
To say, “Come out,” is to resurrect.
To name is to create.
To call is to sanctify.
To predict is to act.
And the evening and the morning were the day
because He said so.
And it is good
because He said so.
You are the light of the world.
You are the salt of the earth.
You will be my witnesses.
So you say
I love you.
And
thank you.
And
so on.
So
,
Are you all right?
You reach across
the children snuggling.
She takes your hand,
kisses, holds it so you feel.
The baby moves.
She says,
All right.
You say,
I’m with you.
She says,
Good.
You say,
God, forgive them.
Help them.
Forgive us.
Help us.
Lord, have mercy.
Let your kingdom come.
She says,
Mmm.
