Far off, I knew your once-white robe from local lore— rusted red, since Carmel. Now you come? A storm of a man, barreling down towards me— plough in hand — in father’s field. Twelve yoke of oxen leaning, heave, mastery— impossible, but I am apprenticed in making each move known through hand and hide and will. Two fields away, I knew you would not turn, and true, you fixed your gaze— (eyes like Yahweh) on the rope that led from beast to beast to me. They say the flames that fell— the flames that felled Baal, by your own tongue— stained you, your clothes. Burnt? No, each thread caught up, undone, remade, in heaven’s answer. You wear the story everywhere you go. Here your stride slows just enough for that same cloak to fall on me, unbidden.
*This poem is riffing off of 1 Kings 19:19-21, from Elisha’s perspective. I’ve written another poem about Elijah, as part of a Lenten series this past year, and I think there will be more about these two.
*I submitted my final, finished, copyedited manuscript to the publisher this week! Thank you so much to those of you who have ^bought me a coffee^ and left me encouraging notes about this first book of mine (39 poems (!) which feels a bit like a mistake? I really should have gone for 40…maybe there’s more editing ahead than I realize). Anyway, now it’s nearly all in the publisher’s hands. I’m especially freaked out about the cover, PLEASE PRAY THAT IT’S GOOD.
p.s. I will keep you all in the loop with regard to the release date, a book launch party, in-person readings, etc.
p.p.s. However, I will not fill your inboxes or Substack feed with “please buy my book,” “look who likes my book,” “personally I love this part of my book,” “I can’t believe how great my book is doing,” etc. I know self-promotion is part of this whole gig, but please can we go about it differently? I will try. I’m committed to trying. Joining Substack was all about weekly goals for sharing my best poems, finding a solid readership, and eventually compiling a manuscript. Thank you for being part of that!
I confess I did not recognize the story from Kings so went for a review. Now both the text and your poem shimmer with new force.
Anna. I am new to your world. Can you tell me a little bit more about your book, its themes, and when you hope to see it in print?