we hear them everyday women and men
sent by you God
gritty how you speak our names our days
even as you breathe the stars and
pronounce their number o when will we stop
slashing our wrists and hanging ourselves
saint augustine said praying means closing your eyes
and knowing God is creating the world even now
you know what lies in the darkness and where light dwells 
o God believe in her and speak 
trees and animals the bear ursus arctos horribillis a river of swans 
for we are one we are rain you are river o make us responsible 
for each other for how we turn
our faces and where we lie down to sleep 

                                                                 ii.5 
                                                                 — for Teresa of Avila

Shann Ray | Atomic Theory 432, ii.6
Contents | Mudlark No. 64 (2018)