His words stayed with them,

meaningless and mangled

by their fears and worries.

—

The stories gradually faded, if

not repeated and retold, in the

dry desert before the shower.

—

Like children with fairy tales 

they told of healings and Him,

challenging the putrid power

–

of malicious men, who chain,

viciously, brothers and sisters,

innocents into slavery forced.

–

Time went on and they struggled

to eat the bread of hopefulness

and drink the wine of comfort.

–

It was early when it happened,

the beloved blew in with the wind

of change and truth and love.

–

None could have guessed

that the Spirit would come 

as flames. Where’s the dove?

–

Flowing with the life giving power

their understanding grew and

a man whose words stumbled

–

became eloquent and gave the

world the wonder of a God 

who overcame death, humbled 

–

to set us free from putrid power,

to bring unity of purpose and love

given eternally, abundantly by God.