all my longings lie open

by Elizabeth de Barros

Shut the door,

find me a table 

for leaning,

for yearning,

and for gathering herbs —

where love is the main course.

_____

Pour the oil,

bring on the meat,

tiny morsels, finger sweet.

Slake my thirst

sip o’ drink,

long to linger,

sup at Your feet. 

_____

Under the fruit tree

the ginkgo, the pine,

cedar, bulrushes — 

  of purpose divine.

•

(But what about the times when I went searching for You under the shade tree,

and got pricked and bled instead?)

•

Sometimes it takes years to understand

 faithful are the wounds of a Friend.

_____

Bitter root 

drop your leaves,

Tree of life

yields its seed.

 

A longing fulfilled is a landscape in due season.

____

Though pain is the fall

Eternity heals

the ancient wound.

Scattered ashes

before Your throne

Carry me

to another world

all Your own.

© 2013 Elizabeth DeBarros