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