the basics

How can we pray for peace
with these gritty mouths drooling tricky words
from sticky teeth and lips?

What we may bring to any altar
(kneeling, bowing, or not)are silent-tongued flowers
kissed by ravenous bees,
and our hope to find the wild nest,
learn there to live with eager brood
chirping their hot cold hungry full:
our holy words, unnecessary.

maria fire