Awash in Grace

Matt Schroeder

like the time we sailed

across four lanes of traffic

on a blown tire

simply to see

if we could

or

after losing vapor trails

held our breath until our lips

blued themselves in the dark

all this

is akin

to almost

a kin we’ve woken

within ourselves

like a photo taken

to let in too much light

blurring who we could be

with a dazed shudder

or

in a wash of warm water

our voices losing themselves

in what little space escaping air

devotes to the sounds we make

how many times we have pressed

our heads to the ground

knees nailed to the floor

tongues tied

to the long hand

of an empty room

all make-believe

as we bathe in our

wishes

the silence

listens

& goes about its day

as we get up

awash in grace

so sure something has been changed

Matt Schroeder is a poet & educator. His works can be found at New World Writing, Thin Air Online, & forthcoming at Poet Lore.