The Child in the Sacred Space
The child
in the sacred space
stands on pew, arms raised,
arms swinging up and down,
directing the choir while they sing,
while gold candelabras gleam
and light streams through stained glass.
Gloria in excelsis Deo.
The child
in the sacred space
wears red, races down the aisle,
climbs the wooden stairs to the bema,
and tugs on his mother’s skirt
as she reads from the Torah.
Sh’ma Yisrael Adonai Eloheinu Adonai Echad.
The child
in the sacred space
kneels, puts nose to rug, then
hops up on one foot, scampers around worshippers,
around those in contemplation and prayer.
Allahu Akbar. Subhana Rabbiyal A’ala.
The child
in the sacred space
skips and twirls as red and gold leaves
are caught in the wind and circle to the ground:
sun on the leaves
sun on his hair
sun on his face.
Dear child in a sacred space:
the universe welcomes you.
Become part of the Divine.
Laura C. Wendorff is professor of English, Ethnic
Studies, and Women’s and Gender Studies at the
University of Wisconsin-Platteville. She has been
published in several journals, and Wendorff’s essay
“Worth The Risk: Writing Poetry About Children
With Special Needs” was nominated for a Best of
the Net Award and the Pushcart Prize. Laura also
enjoys growing flowers, playing the piano, and has
been a member of the same book club for over a decade.