Emmaus Poem

A strange place to make a new beginning
here
on a dusty road
not leading
much of anywhere
in a time when the ritual seasons
have already turned
and at dusk
almost dark, in fact
what an unsuitable place and time
to begin
And the two of us
plodding along
dull-headed
wet-witted
after three days of regretting
and recounting losses
Our bodies
hobbled and our souls brokered
we moved like confused moths
near an extinguished wick
The fire was gone.
And now we mourned
Was it sorrow
for ourselves or him that we most
valued

The answer?
we may never know
nor does it matter now

We were teachers who planned too closely
parents who engineered the form
We left no room to enjoy the exploration
and the moment of the child
Now in this twilight of being
we were voiceless
Our metaphors and tropes
failed us in this sullen grief
No hope, but God
and to hope in Him
seemed hopeless
missed the opportunity provided

Why would God knock twice
Then, at this point
a stranger
joined us
Did he make a third
or were we still just two?
We were not sure ourselves
but know for certain
when bread was broken
time was fractured, too
And when we rose and left the table
we were different
ourselves yet more than selves
rose up to leave

Bones of fire now support us
so full of love that
it hurts our lungs to breathe
These the bodies
which the third one left us
we dare not guess the features
of our souls
This road to nowhere goes
on forever
out from Emmaus into a waiting world
Who is this that we carry now
in witness
What names does He bear
that we can call Him in the night
It is a secret
But this we share with you
o children
When you see Him
you will recognize the face