The women who live to bless and
aid will not hide inside the hope
they fervently press on. With faith
they take gigantic steps toward the
voice calling them with clanging bells
to service in the field, on the slopes, the
absent villages and streets where injustice
delivers lilies to those sobbing beneath the
failing light of day. Many have strained in
wonder about what they see in them, how
they return good for wickedness, make the
broken mend, and show the mystery that
makes the world a birthplace for peace.
These completely free women will not
turn their wet eyes away till the dust
across society sings of divinity’s casing
light in all the places closed from sight
and dazed by loathing, violence and hate.
These women the gracious Spirit led to hear
the ancient voice that breaks oppressive chains
and calls them to live faith away from darkness
in this madly divided world—these women God
exalts!
Harold J. Recinos is Professor of Church and Society, Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University, and the author of two collections of poetry: Voices on the Corner (Wipf and Stock, 2015) and Long Way Home (Floricanto and Berkeley, 2016).