Dog Psalm

Psalm 9 (album) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

As the puppy cries for the mother he will never see again,

So cries my soul for You, Oh God.

As he searches among the blankets for her nipple to suckle,

So search I for You, Oh my Lord

As he resolves to make a home among people not his kind,

So I resolve to make a home among people lost from You.

© Julianne Carlile

Star-Crossed

I would often ask you for the stories

of how I ended up here

and you would tell me:

I met your grandfather when

he came to work for my parents.

He was a really sharp dresser.

Then you would laugh.

I wondered if you knew what you were really

telling me:

That grandpa had been given used clothes

by your lover, a man you were enamored with

and at first, at the play,

you thought grandpa was him.

(His scent permeated the room;

you could feel him—his essence,

like a star beam covered in gold dust.

But then when you looked,

you saw it was grandpa.)

It must have been really funny,

but what’s really funny is that’s why

I’m here.

© Julianne Carlile