You Reign

Tiny glass weighs in my hand of endless glitter-rubied grace
and chastises me in heaven's voices.
I could rest in the anger and pain more than the crystal-etched promises
but for the heavy rose-blood cup.
Glistens between thumb
rushes against me with the awful word
'grace'.

First taste left me exhausted with sweet, sweaty dancing
but this leaves my back in shreds and feet slow
to question if my words ever penetrate past,
or simply die
between this praise-dappled arch-way and that shadowed jail.

Juice warms in my fingers as I sense it's length, falter at its color.
Shining red against the world, speaks of heaven and life between my fingers.
Admired the easy red-lettered words, but these same are cruel
in breathless,
chested spurts that I
must
for
give.
Knowing the silky-white scars will always fleck chest and back.
Forgive.
Sirens nearly drown out your soft, uncompromising words.
Fall under pews to dusty crimson carpet in fevered anger
mistaken as prayer.

Refuse to quiet, instead you scream out in thunderous red
shakes hot tears in my mouth.
You never healed
the holes in your hands- image throbs in my vision. And so,
I breathe, and breathe.
breathe.
for light to brighten the air around me, for humming in my ears
to love my enemies.
The room is frozen, filled with tiny red cups.
Nothing shifted, but the constant rhythm of your scars compels me.

Lift,
and lips breathe out those stumbled, fructose-sour words of blessing.
Swallow
spoon of grape-flavored life.

Forward

Said that I would bleed
rushing red
promised tears
and cautioned pain

I feared that future
dressed in hate and chains

and now I fear the
downcast eyes
the disappointed sighs

that your love would be removed
or permanently altered

but I'm not bleeding
because He bled for me.
and the tears which fill my eyes
refuse to fall
because He cried for me
the pain I was promised
He felt for me

I'm exhausted at the thought
It floors me
I'm so loved

I was terrified.
Now replaced
with worry and wonder

I question if you would still love me
But his love?
I don't understand it.
But this much I know:
He loves me.
And that's unchangeable.

Fills me up
and sets me to fly
It scares me
and frees me
That fabulous love

He took my pain. Held it in his hands and feet and back.
He bled. And screamed and ached.
So I don't have to.

Set me free
To bring hope
peace
would be too small
Love that propells
and excellerates
Your love causes me to move

If I could rewind
would I different do?
I need not linger there
because He loves me
and it makes me
run.