Hokey Pokey

Years ago now I wrote a paper in seminary about the priest as square dance caller.   Images often help me get hold of realities in new ways.  Today I might write a paper on priest as dancing the Hokey Pokey, not in any way to make light of it, but perhaps to get a new handle from this different perspective, standing on the edge of things.

Called to the edge

I tilt and tip on the rim of the world.

I am a novice

At this art.

One foot in

One foot out;

One hand in

One hand out;

I am part

Of the novitiate of an order

With no name.

My whole self in

My whole self out

I seek balance on the rim

Of the world.

I practice the steps

Over and over.

Sometimes my head is in

Sometimes my head is out

Sometimes my very heart

Is on the line.

Still I dance.