March 9–15 ❘ Many Colors

Many Colors

Clothes don’t make us,
though they hint at possibilities,
like prophetic dreams
and well-chosen baby names.

One could wear blue as sign
of sadness or love of open sky,
red as show of pride
or badge of shame. Black
and white at times spell out
internal conflict, or ombré
when no frequency of visible
light quite defines ambivalence.

Yahweh offers me a garment
of refracted glory—some day.
I struggle in wrappings
of temporary self-expression
and shifting guise, reluctant
to discard withered fig leaves
and be seen naked.

When does it end, this trip
and fall from sheltered garden,
this abduction into Egypt?
When will this ark, driven along rivers
and floods, reach my land of promise?
I long to look up and see God
running to meet me, to feel
tears on my neck as He weeps
a good long while.

• Read more of my poetry at www.facebook.com/latterdaysaintpoetry

• Contact me at merrijane.rice@gmail.com