Do not Weep

Soon afterward he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited his people!” And this report about him spread through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country. Luke 7:11-17

Do Not Weep

Head in hand rightly so weeping
a child with a smile as wide as the sea
and eyes delighting in the rainbows and hands
reaching the sky capturing wind and shadow
growing with each breath and laughter
tumbling out at the most inappropriate times.

This boy child, this girl child your offspring lost
disease crept in the night an open window
a careless friend and accident took
your heart your life your breath.

Human jealousy and cruelty has taken so many
sons and daughters crosses and wars
violent obsession and radical neglect
do not weep for God is not complete
until you're complete your son your daughter
resting in your arms.

Mothers and fathers letters and phone calls
loneliness abounds when the offspring disappear
from sight but never form heart and mind
a single woven piece of fabric that extends
beyond hurt and illness and the grave.

Do not weep
God is binding the wounds
do not weep
the Creator is making whole what was
broken and defiled
do not weep for miracles are on the horizon
raising young lively arms
to awaiting loving arms.