The Hawk Kitchen 6:08pm
There’s A Bay Window
At My Kitchen Door
Where I Can Stand Northward
To Be Surrounded
By Trees And Yard
And Sky, Clouds, Ocean To The East
To The West Our Muskrat Pond
And A New Testament
Baptist Church
On The Hill
The Hawk West Desk Window 2:45pm
I used to go to churches
and found them hollow places
Who there would hear of My Unstoppable
Shower Of Lights?
Who there could understand The Depths
of My Enclosed Depression?
–
I used to go to churches
looking for companionship
in the rawness of being broken open
like the delicate egg
I was trying to carry
–
I used to go to churches
when I wanted to die instead —
where no Minister could make Me
whole
and no friend could balance Me
–
I used to go to churches
and now I am Home
years beyond the fragility
in the compatibility
of My Marriage
where My House is
My Church
Joanna Gilman Hyde 