These Words of Mine (for Vaera)

I am not slow of speech
My tongue is
     sharp
and quick
Too quick
I need to learn to hold it but
rarely manage

It lashes out when I am
anxious 
or hurt
     with words
that should be used for
     healing
     praying
     teaching
     loving
but sometimes I weave a shrewish shield

or
else
my heart is overfull and the words
     spill over
saying too much 
or too soon
or too much too soon
trying to hold on
but words are much too fragile for that


Moses see things
while he’s waiting for his words to come
He hears things

     I miss things
Rushing with my words
Always trying to find the right word,
the pleasing
     word 
I am not slow of speech

But sometimes I think
I should be

Quiet

Does Moses hear the crackle of The Bush
in the echo of his soft stutter?

What miracles am I missing,
lost in these words
of mine?

Hush now.
Pen be still.
Mind be still.

Mouth closed
Heart open

Waiting to hear 
where God will send me next.

-EKG’18