Voices told me: go: and so I left.

(An ocean later

sanctuary opened

like the wet lungs of a choir

my lover built his home inside the old church

on Jacksonville Road)

winter told me: seek:

and so I sought

god told me: nothing:

and so I knew

newness said: make way:

and so I waited

church told us: come:

and so we came

lover told me: lie:

and so I lay

(right where the altar used to be)

lying told me: body:

I obeyed

obeying told me: pleasure:

and so I pleased

rain fell in years

each droplet saying gift gift gift against the roof

my body shook with taking

I looked for light inside your quiet mouth and found

a kiss a sanctuary for songbirds