piano man (John 3:1-17)

at the bar, where he's
been nursing his wounds
  after a long bored meeting,
Nick pushes himself to his feet
wandering over to
the cigarette-scarred
piano,
           where Jesus is
        slowly plinking
                    out
        'in the still of the night'

putting a dollar
in the chipped glass,
  he begins to chat
        with the guy
        who can do wonders
              with just a few notes;

nodding slowly,
listening carefully,
     Jesus looks up
           and smiles:
"my man,
you need a new dance partner,"
     pointing to the corner
as Nick turns,
he sees Spirit
  waiting for him with open arms;
"but, Nick," Jesus whispers,
     you gotta let her lead . . ."

as he swings into
a blues version of
     'i could have danced all night'

(c) 2008  Thom M. Shuman

a handfull (Matt. 17:1-9)

if it was only
in the mist-ery of
            unknowing,
   we would never have
      enough
   knowledge to understand
               what in the world
      is going on with you;
if it was only
   the thundering voice
            echoing off mountain
         walls,
   we could never have enough
               silence to hear you;
if it was only
   in the sun and stars
            heaving and
                   twisting
         in birth's throes,
   we could never have enough
              light to see you.

but in you
         coming
   to touch us with
      a gentle hand
      on the shoulder,
   lifting us to our feet, whispering
       'don't be scared!  look...'
as you point to
              God
   standing in the kitchen,
   flour freckling the calloused hands
        kneading the dough &
        shaping it into life
              all too easily broken,
   while watching the Spirit
merrily stomping down the
                     grapes of wonder,
      laughing in delight
             as grace stains the hem
   of glory's garment.

a crumb
      a sip,
           a handful of
        God

and that's more than
   enough.

(c) 2011  Thom M. Shuman