Lifeways

We have desert and flame
the wielded stave and
soft blue robe - both
had mountains to climb
against misery and pain
against power-wielded wrong

fed by living streams of
holy water in the lung
he strode and she
moved gracefully on.  The fire in his eyes
and his fiery words
embody him.  Her steadfast

love endured no complaint.
We are fed by their wisdom
action-sustained and we
name them: Mary, Elijah,
towering above us in their own right
though they were dust

and to dust they returned.
After them we gaze back
through the black glass of time
and wonder how they lived
like us on all our roads both
light and dark.  They help us to start.

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