Word

I am grateful for oh so many things.  Today I am grateful for time and experience among charismatic and evangelical folk in whose company I learned what being asked for a "word" might mean.  This may or may not apply to you.  If it does, Amen.  If it doesn't.  Amen.

This may apply to you

Or not.

I realize I wonder

About the reader

Before I begin writing,

Just like I used to title things

Before I began

The reflection.

I thought I knew

Where it would go.

So

This may or may not

apply to you.

Yesterday

My client asked me

For a word,

One word to carry her

Through the month.

I considered the request.

Sure enough

The word came.

The word was delivered.

This may apply to you

Or not.

Here it is.

Titles

This was supposed to be a poem about the splinter in my foot.

I think I know

The title

Before I have even

Begun.

No.

Poems

Reflections

Chapters

Whole books

In their richness.

Now that I come to it:

Our lives

Defy summation

In anything

Like a title,

Words

In a neat package;

Words that say

Come read the rest;

Words that say

Come hither

A crooked finger

Beckoning;

A door opened just a crack

With light

On the other side.

Still I try

I started this with a title.  Then tried to write something to go with the title.  So often, more often, the title comes last.  So I changed it.

This is the way

I can title

This portion of my life

This portion of which

I know

No beginning

No end.

Really no label

Is enough.

No title

Captures it,

Even partially.

Sometimes

No

Often

I unearth a label,

Try to live into it

For a time,

Then find words

Are not enough,

Never enough.

I climb to the top

Of the mountain.

I sit in the blue chair.

I go to work out with my beloved

In five minutes.

There are no words

No real words

To describe it.

Still I try.