Four Poems
Amanda Laughtland
For the Kingdom of Heaven Is at Hand
To prepare the way of the Lord, all the region
were baptized, confessing their sins,
to make His paths straight (I am
not straight). A voice said, repent,
said the ax is laid to the root of the trees,
said every tree which does not bear
good fruit (I cannot bear it) is thrown
into the fire, said the chaff (which I never
chose to be) shall burn unquenchably
when the wheat is in the barn.
Fishers of Men
He came to dwell by the Sea of Galilee.
People who sat in darkness have seen
a great light. When I pray, I see
quiet depths where fishing nets can’t reach,
where creatures know the idea of light
though we can’t see it shine. Could the darkest sea
be filled with love? He saw two brothers, casting their nets.
He called, and they left their nets and followed Him.
He saw two other brothers with their father,
mending their nets. He called again,
and they left their father and followed Him.
Could I learn to swim beside your body in the sea
if neither of us will say follow me?
An Epistle
Count it all joy when you fall
into various trials. Let patience
have its perfect work. I will wait for you
by an inland sea never mentioned
in the Old or New Testament. I will be swift
to hear, slow to speak. I will know
that to doubt is to be double-minded,
to receive nothing from the Lord.
Every good gift and every perfect gift
is from above, from the Father of lights
with whom there is no shadow
though there are shadows cast by clouds
upon our earth, as you or I will see
when I return to you or you to me, one of us
looking out the airplane window, ready
to tell the other of her journey.
He Opened His Mouth and Taught Them, Saying
Blessed are they, for they shall—
Blessed are they, for theirs is—
Blessed are you when they say
all kinds of evil against you
for My sake. (They will say it
for my sake, too.) If your right hand
causes you to sin, cut it off
(for you have always been left-handed).
Blessed are you: you are the salt,
but if the salt loses its flavor,
it is good for nothing but to be trampled
by men. Let your Yes be Yes.
Rejoice and be exceedingly glad
for great is your reward.
Amanda Laughtland lives in the suburbs of Seattle and teaches English at a local college. Her work appeared in issues 8, 14 and 24 of E·ratio. Her poems included here incorporate found text from the New King James translation of the Bible.