remember when we used to sing

with candles and tambourines 

circled in hope beyond the shadow of doubt

until the tsunami wiped away the sand castles

and the foolish man built his house on flannel graph 

stories of sinners and saints and the in-between 

(wretched men aching for deliverance)

but the next chapter begins without condemnation

youthful naivety and zealous hearts consumed for my father's house

is nearly collapsed into the encroaching fresh water

and eden has been overrun with a liquid eraser

adam, where are you?

caan, where is your brother?

promises made and covenants broken

prayer requests have remained unspoken

but even though mary kay is blind now

she has visions of resurrection and redemption

remember when we used to drive

from muskegon to division avenue

because the gates of hell were prevailing 

and the lovelution is unfailing 

tony brought his guitar and i have come so far

from the circle of hope but the candle remains

and the tambourine became a weapon

worship as warfare

scars as trophies

and grace

scandalous grace. 

mysterious grace. amazing grace. 

bang my head against the wall grace. 

knock me off my feet grace. 

incomprehensible grace. violent grace. 

furious grace. bloody grace. 

terrible grace. awful grace. 

inexplicable grace. 

stand up and sing grace. 

sit down and cry grace. 

gospel grace. new world disorder grace. 

upside down grace. inside out grace. 

crucified grace. resurrected grace. 

the last chapter is still being written about grace. 

redeeming grace. whore-turned-virgin grace. 

body broken, blood poured out grace. 

welcome to the table of grace. 

pull up a chair grace. light a candle grace. 

burn down your religious castle grace. 

beautiful ashes of grace.

.