Glory

Gospel songs mumble

glory under her desk.

She sings along.

Quiet praise,

stiff jerky elbows.

Her work is a stingy

offering. "Only he knows,

only he knows."


She has a scripture for everyone.

She stars and highlights, writes

their name in the margin.

She copy/pastes her conversations

from the bible and gossip columns.

Complaints in red print.

Good news in black.


I want to show her

that the most beautiful part

of her favorite book is the

humble, empty space that holds

every word.

The Blank

that receives without judgment.

The Nothing

that existed before humans added

shoulds to make sense of it all.


So, I stay at my desk.

I click keys and hum along

with the gospel songs that

mumble from under her desk

"only he knows,

only he knows."



© lauren zuniga