Poem: Lizard and Cloud

(Poem written on student retreat at Douai abbey drawing on imagery from Isaiah 35).

King of this dessicated wasteland,

parched brittle, cactus dry,

wreathed in ill-whispering wind,

the cracked-skinned lizard's slow blinking of one eye

perceives the cloud.

From first scarce whisps

she slowly grows, swelling, darkening,

bellying generously until one fat

drop forms and

falls, and then another, wet-thudding life

into the dust. The earth gasps.

Whole-healing seeds and takes.

Shocked fingers shoot green

and spread forth grateful hands of colour

to the sky.

Lizard flicks it's tail and flees

this return of Eden.