God Hangs Out the Wash

The sun was almost dead in the west

Thunder belching boldly in the east

Gabriel was churning up a dust cloud

Chariot wheels spinning across Dry Canyon floor

God grins as her mighty hand sweeps

Across the dark fading star-filled sky

Lightning strikes! Gabriel slaps the reins

Rickety old church on the plain begins to shake

“And Gawd says…” began the preacher in the pulpit

Thunder drowned out his thoughts and words

Mighty gust of wind: Pnuema

πνεύμα straight from between her grinning teeth

Church doors shredded into toothpicks

Lightning split wide the roof

Steeple fell to the narthex

Gabriel stood firm in the center isle

“Mercy,” he spoke in a whisper

As far as the Easterly thunder

From the deadness of the sun in the West

“Mercy,” he spoke it a little louder

Parish people dared to open their eyes in prayer

Preacher prostrate, alter fire blazed in prayer

Gabriel stood firm in the sacred silence

Someone knocked at the little house on Main

Two in bed and love interrupted

Lizzie lit the light and saw

Mattie asked, “Who is it?”

Lizzie replied, “It’s the Lawd!”

A dozen roses on the front porch at night

God grinned and Gabriel stood firm

Parish people peeking

Preacher prostrate

Mattie and Lizzie in love

Chariot wheels spinning across Dry Canyon floor

“MERCY,” cries Gabriel

“MERCY,” rings off the canyon walls

Easterly sun on the rise

God grins into another day as she hangs out the wash

Dayvid Graybill

Copyright ©2011