Jerome

[joel]

A homeless soul received a loaf of crusty bread
with skin akin to slate
and pocked where heat and gas and yeast had been
and light in weight

and blessed and broke and ate a half and gave a half
to other homeless folk
and all began to eat from tender fluff
the loaf had broke

as just a couple fingers pinched a thumb—
in uniformity—
to hollow out a cavern in the bread,
a cavity,

a cave— a little house like Christmas gingerbread—
a bed-and-breakfast inn
wherein the folks who craved its calories
were all tucked in

like Saint Jerome within his books his ink his faith—
a word of peace for them:
be welcomed home within your house of bread,
your Bethlehem.

[Doreen Peri]

The Pastor Poet.
I hope you read some of your verses to your congregation.