Little Enough

Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.” One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten. John 6:7-13

Little Enough

I am weak with sorrow and hunger rolls
over me like rain over prairie grass
wavering, bending, stumbling I am wandering
without a compass without true north.

You hear the silent aches and the small
pitiful cries of mothers with dry mild
sad eyes and sunburnt laboring back.

They would send me and my offspring
away from the great font we thirst for
walking all this distance to return
home, worn and empty.

A little one bright with hopeful eyes
full of possibility and trust offers his
small lunch, mere pittance and they scoff
not seeing the bottomless wealth
of your heart.

You made us generous, and the hills
broke forth in laughter and sweet honey,
milk and figs flowed from the desert
birthed from what was barren rock.

We had little enough and left behind
you brought your best
and gave us more.
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