I

One morning when I unfolded
This was what I heard
In the fabric of a prayer shawl
From the hymnal of a bird

From the wolves was lamentation
From the serpent—a weeping sound
From the butterfly—a battle cry!
And the howling of a hound
In the silence I heard the answer
To God’s questions unto Job
In my breath I heard the broken sigh
When Joseph quit his robe
I heard the madmen settling down
I heard the scholars rail
Said the beggar “I am able”
Said the giant “I am frail”
I heard the rustling olive branch
Amid the whistle of the dove
Said the monarch “Here—your freedom”
Said the cynic “I’m in love”

II

One morning when I unfolded
This is what I beheld
In the streaming of the sunbeams
And the oceans as they swelled

I saw the canyons perish
I watched the rivers dry
The LORD re-writing history
In the corner of his eye
I glimpsed the Resurrection
I saw the kingdom come
I envisioned a modern exodus
And living martyrdom
The clouds performed a cosmic dance
The waters, in tune, did part
Through the ribcage of a ghost
I read a transparent heart
I saw the sages sorrowful
And the poets overjoyed
The stars with solemn voices
Stumbling into the void

III

One morning when I unfolded
This is what I felt
As the angels beckoned “come to us”
And the Summer whispered “melt”

I felt a certain sadness
But could not trace the source
Was it the grievance of the righteous man?
Or the wicked man’s remorse?
Then I felt a certain happiness
And knew from whence it came
The smile on my lover’s face
The healing of the lame
Laughter rippled through the air
Oh the ash of sacred fire
To heaven—dying men return
To life—we all retire
A caress, a kiss, a warm embrace
And I was swept away
By the fluidity of time and space
And the nakedness of day

IV

In honor of what came to pass
And all that is untold
I pray that we may sit quite still
To watch the world unfold