Reap In Joy

Today, as the thunder rolled between the mountains
And the rain fell in heavy drops upon the rocks
And trees that heard the sorrowed, shaking sobs
Still shivering in their leaves as breezes talk
I heard the raptor’s lonely, piercing cry and knew
There is no path to glory in the sky. 

My cracked hands tore at the broken earth below
In the hope that some green and lovely life 
Might break forth from the pale corpse I planted
And the whisper of bees in their humming strife
Reminded my dust-formed bones with holy breath
The promise he defeated death is no lie. 

With tears too bitter and heart too heavy, I sow
All I have in plenty, death and deadly things
Are the bones that fall in the valley, dry or wet
It makes no difference, my voice too weak to sing
When every love I have grows wrinkled 
And sifts between tired fingers to die.

My only prayer, unheard in the mountain echo,
Let me reap in joy. 
My only hope, the uncaring stone rejects my tears,
Let me reap in joy. 
My only faith, held in dead seeds planted toward the sun,
Let me reap in joy.