Faith

Photo Brian Federle: Overcast in Oregon, 2008

Faith

is seeing my blood

coursing through

shut eyelids

and feeling

blood pushing down

into my arms and legs,

believing

it will soon return

to my darkly

beating heart.

But faith is more than

seeing

or believing.

Faith shines

like the cloistered sun

concealed by thick

autumn clouds.

Faith knows

all my childish lies,

and gently laughs

at my innocence.

Faith stalks me,

deep into my desert

where, trembling,

I wait for her famished arrow.

I love faith;

in her passionate embrace

I fall into my

darkest night.

I fear faith;

slave to her lacerating truth

reluctantly I walk

into her relentless light.