(Post)Lentenblog 2008 :: Labyrinth 14

labyrinth site as of 5:55pm 041608, shot from the west

the hour growing late,
pregnant
with this project, with possibilities,
i lifted the front edge of my
tee-shirt to form a chalky cloth sling

i piled in hands full of
fist-sized limestone
three, nine, thirty-eight,
and i labored to stand,
grabbing my back,
looking and feeling
like a last-trimester mama -
and i laughed out loud.
this father of four births,
four umbilical incisions,
four afterbirths,
and one miscarriage,
waddling over to this
birthing site,
pacing in artistic anticipation,
wondering and worrying
about this strange,
forthcoming delivery

so many strong women
in my life,
many of them mothers,
and some of them
wing-waiting

i figured they'd all
laugh out loud
(perhaps my twin-bearing
mom the loudest)
to see me wrestle and
wrangle and huff

i came around
to where i'd left off

i couldn't gracefully
set my quarry upon the earth
so i squatted
and, valsalva,
let the stones

fall

a little lower than the angels

had the earth tonight been water
the concentric rippled labyrinth
might have serv'd witness enough

to the father son and holy ghost.

prs 041608

labyrinth site as of 8:20pm 041608, shot from the east

labyrinth, texas style

i couldn't help myself: i started forming the switchbacks.

Comments

[Scott Childress]

wow - this is awesome, paul....good work.

i would love to see it in person one day.

[Scott Childress]

wow - this is awesome, paul....good work.

i would love to see it in person one day.

[Sean McMains]

Looking good! I will have to arrange a mini-pilgrimage to come walk it once complete.

[amy]

Your poem brought tears to my eyes. You have such a way with words. I am enjoying the work of your labor and proud that many others will as well in the very near future.143