They Are My Love

All the hands that press against
and hold the broken pieces firm,
that wash the bruised and dusty feet
they are my friends, they are my Love

All the eyes that watch the sky
for signs of hope and life to come,
that deeply hold me in my own-
they are my sisters, they are my Love

All the tender words that call-
that carry light and lift the wall,
safe a voice when dark surrounds-
they are my brothers, they are my Love

All these arms persist embrace
in spite of spite and rancor
that never have a moment failed
they are my mothers, they are my Love

All the tears that fortify
and bridge the gap between our hearts-
they break the tragic, heal the spoiled
they are my fathers, they are my Love

All the prayers that clothe me here,
a woven strand me swaddled in
that strength that rolled the stone away
they are my family, they are my Love

All the silent, sitting ones
that need not speak but still are known
they wait beside the sickbed long
they are my homes, they are my Love

And all the songs they sing to me
those tender things, the beating wings
that urge me on and cool my fear-
they are my forebears, they are my Love

You who bear the mark of Christ
all whose form his love has made
it’s you I call to welcome me
you are my Lord, you are my Love

-Matthew Clark

Oxford, MS