Body of the Body of Christ

Body of the Body of Christ
voices overlap at the altar
Bread of the Body of Heaven

knees press together tight
sink into soft red leather
Body of the Body of Christ

hands spread and curve
round the wooden pew, fingers
Bread of the Body of Heaven

rub red the grain. Eyeing
bread and wine, I wonder
Body of the Body of Christ

will I have the nerve
to take, eat, and alter
Bread of the Body of Heave.

my life with a single swallow and sigh
and a vow to remember
Body of the Body of Christ
Bread of the Body of Heaven.

---Dawn Holt Lauber

COPYRIGHT 2003 The Christian Century Foundation
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning