Glen Kappy is a founding member of Albuquerque Mennonite Church where, over more than 20 years, he has served as elder, preacher, interim pastor, and spiritual formation director. Since the fall of 2000, he has been a second-career teacher of English, Social Studies, and Performing Arts, mostly in the Albuquerque Public School system.

These poems were submitted to address the theme “Fidelity of Place,” which was explored in the November issue of The Mennonite magazine. 

Snail Mornings

As sun gently warms and dries
drips and drops still fall from rainspout
forming circles in the metal tub below
that brims with last night’s rain.
And snails make their moist way over pavement
and up the rain-pearled leaves and stalks.
And birds have a special song—
not the thick and rousing music of an anthem—
but here and there between the trees—
a kindly invitation.

Stay… stay…
If God himself does not call you away
stay… stay…
and take this drink amongst dryness
this wholesome juice that’s served
in a chilled and long-stemmed glass.

For appetites will urge us on
and plans though drawn with just a line or two
consume our attention
snails flex up into their shells
and this time for meditation and wonder vanish
like damp stain on washed cement.

Rain Prayer

The ground is parched—
its lips are cracked.
O let it drink and drink of rain.

And all that sprouts would praise—
a million times more intricate and eloquent
than Shakespeare’s stock and use of words—

the headline act!—
with every porch a private box to view the blessed event—
we’d dance and cheer and soak in it.

And even jerkied hearts
would turn to thoughts of you
and even bitter tongues give thanks.

Image: Downtown Albuquerque. Wikimedia Commons.