sabbath liberty

Harvey S. Mozolak

bondage to a back

eighteen years

with tendons tied

almost two decades

sinews sewn bowed 

a chunk of childhood

muscles muddled

or the wealth of youth

arthritis wrongness

or warped the choice of age

coiled crippling spirit

she

he 

we wanted to tie

and bind to a day

when he couldn’t loose

eternity on the present

healing at disease

salvation for the imprisoned

a crook in the week

the sabbath God

at work

watering the thirsty

tethered to time

like mangered beasts

Lectionary 21

Luke 13:10-17

division’s sum

Harvey S. Mozolak

three agains two

and

two against three

water swells

from the well 

of Names with the Name

far beyond the heavens

and rains the reign of God

baptism unites

the flood pools

drowns the stain

and spill of soil

and floats to dry land

a faith-shod people

led by pillars of clouds

and fire

and a sandaled righteous rabbi

at home praying 

between the columns

of the Temple

and walking

teaching and touching

limping beggars

the blind and diseased

beside the stoney paths

amid beaten lives

at village funerals

and among the demonized

his baptism joins

him to us

except

this

his he said

much after 

Jordan with John

I have a baptism

with which to be baptized

and what stress 

I am under

until it is completed

peace pulled beneath

in undertow

division’s draining 

whirlpool

not of water but of drought

kindling dry dead branches

to cross the hot hewn trunk

boiling blood

evaporating breath

in the noon sun 

fueled by burning 

in the raging tongues of hate

sown deep within the family

weathered by warnings

from the Presence

appearance

clouded by the present time

The Three for all

free

Lectionary 20

Luke 12. 49-56

good pleasures given
Harvey S. Mozolak

a casket on the dresser
small treasure trove
containing all that is left
when possessions are sold
the heart set in Christ
a candle beside it
lighting the wedding picture on the wall
of the banquet table
wood ladened
with bread and wine
veiling body
knife forking blood
a living knock at the door
company expected
but at an uncertain hour
fear flutters only in the window curtains
echoing the clatter of empty closet hangers
and dust-owned floors
as the house is emptied
for movement to the mansion
where servants at meal
sit with the master
unwrapping gifts stolen from death

Lectionary 19
Luke 12. 32-40

as good as dead / Sarai on the shore
Harvey S. Mozolak

dropped between the sands
a small stone
fallen from the ring of those who loved
so deeply
they encircled the stars and sea
in their hope for forever
the diamond loosened in a crushing wave
her hand releasing his
for moment
to swim alone and right herself
the gem slipped unseen
into the water
clear as its clarity
slowly rolling ashore
with the broken
shorn of shape and worn
where she having noticed
its brightness gone
its edge of remembrance
no longer felt against her flesh
now searches frantically with a flashlight
in the darkening hour
somewhere near where they wore
the sun as clothing
as good as dead the trust
that she will find it
amid the countless sands
and numberless night eyes of the sky
the moon glints on a single facet
or was it one of the stars' glances?
a single hard crystal
among the many white and brown
grey opaque
and broken hulls of the hidden
when they marry she wears a gold shell
about her neck
a piece of common sand
from that beach
glued in its center
and her fingers turn the ring prayerfully
after the birth of their first child
accounting beyond translucent life
of harder unseen wealth

Lectionary 19
Genesis 15. 1-6