Helen

she chose quick sand
to go across to get to town
every word of her sermon, nearly,
dangerous ground
she chose to go that way, to be that way,
was not afraid

boldly, for Christ, she walked towards him
across quick sand
every unmentionable, she mentioned,
what is most personal, she confessed

she talked about being a woman,
she talked about sex, she talked about marriage,
she talked about being right,
she talked about being left

her husband, after nineteen years, up and left
she talked about being messed over
about not messing up
stuff you just don’t touch, she brought up
had to sit up, take notes, take notice

this was the holy ghost talking, I could tell,
the holy ghost walking over quick sand
like the son upon water,
like the father upon the wind

I had to run to my window,
out through my window, another miracle happening

2007, woman asking men to back her up
humility mixed with woman power
we can’t go two steps, we can’t solve much
unless joined together, unless journeying together

into quick sand all of us would end
invited who would, to hold hands to be holy,
to fly

neil ellis got up out of his seat
and, like a young goat, was dancing
I danced with him, in ecstasy,
in response to Helen McPhee


© Obediah Michael Smith, 2007
4:16 a.m. 10/09/07