today’s prayers feel like
holdin’ my beloveds in lingerin’ embraces
wishin’ i could press them
into a place of safety
some place that has likely never existed
but if I ‘magine
it’s somewhere
tween the earth of my skin and bones
veil’d by the breath and ether of my Spirit
today’s prayers feel like
fine sheens of forehead sweat
mists of warm breath
slivers of sheddin’ skin
and coiled tendrils of my beloveds hairs
lingerin’ in the soft folds of my flesh
long after our embraces end
each like bodily talisman
a residue of our lovin’
they press into my flesh
and i consecrate each
with layers of protection, prayer and love
in my heart
i’m willin’ these tiny talisman
to tether my beloveds
to a home
we have built
a home
made of our love
as their bodies move through this world
today’s prayers feel like
pressin sandpaper palms
and calloused feet
into the cool body of the earth
dressed in mornin’ dew
today’s prayers are the practice of
transplantin’ and thinnin’ seedlings
buildin’ soil mounds with bare hands
and me bein’ worked
and changed
by the soil
not the other way ‘round
today’s prayers smell
sweet and sharp
like fermented compost
poured as libation
into the depths of honey holes
dug cross the yard
today’s prayers feel like
chickens
roostin’ on wrists
thin legs
covered in stockins of black and gold scales
movin’ swift beneath feather pant’loons
as they race to receive me
plumed gold and black necks
crainin’ upward in recognition
as I sing my greetings to ‘em
today’s prayers
look like
feel like
sound like
taste like
smell like
sayin yes
to
life
sayin yes
to
breath
even when
it hurts
today’s prayers
look like
feel like
sound like
taste like
smell like
rememberin’
that the simplest of prayers
is often the most potent
Copyright 2022 Tamira Cousett
