Charles Hedrick is a renown Bible scholar, theologian, author, teacher and celebrated rabble rouser. But in his hidden, most meditative regions, where truths are laid bare, he's a deep thinking, contemplative poet.
He's also my dad.
April is Charles Hedrick's birthday month. It's also National Poetry Month in the U.S.
Since all he ever wants for his birthday are socks and poems, I offer the next four blogs as 80-word poems (one of these numbers is significant to Charles's birthday; I'm not saying which lest it be considered "telling").
In honor of this great man I get to call DAD, I'm also participating in the Writer's Digest Poem a Day Challenge. My entries are reposted here.
Happy Birthday Dad. This is for you.
Shoes
plastic shoes
scattered about steps
wait
for the prayerful
scattered about steps
wait
for the prayerful
in
sweaty
stinky
dirty
impure
boots
sweaty
stinky
dirty
impure
boots
to
wash face, forearms, head
and
cleanse feet, like this:
wash face, forearms, head
and
cleanse feet, like this:
begin on the right
right hand scrubs right foot
and ankle,
everything wet
insert
right hand pinkie finger
between toes
repeat three times
and ankle,
everything wet
insert
right hand pinkie finger
between toes
repeat three times
left hand scrubs left foot
and ankle,
everything wet
insert
left hand pinkie finger
between toes
repeat three times
and ankle,
everything wet
insert
left hand pinkie finger
between toes
repeat three times
scatter plastic shoes
about steps
about steps
since feet,
like souls,
are bare
for
prayer
like souls,
are bare
for
prayer
3 comments:
AAck! How can I match that! Awesome poem Sis!
Until one sees and experiences the preparation for prayer, one cannot appreciate what devout Muslims do. Thanks for the birthday gift from a distance! I shall treasure it as an experience that I do not have to put on a shelf!
Love
Dad
--the pictures or the words--or the combination--they take my breath away!
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