Eloquencia

And they felt the love of

The Holy Ghost

Pelting down like a hard rain.

Their lips parted by Beatific Will,

The fervent spoke in language unknown,

Praised virtue in words foreign,

Moved to proclamation

By a passion strong as salvation:

A grasping mother’s hand

On her young son’s nape,

Willing him to stay afoot,

A certain urgency of compassion and need.

Oh! to be so inspired

By love and feeling

That flames grow atop our head,

Crownlike,

That passion opens our mouths

To pronounce

Desire to a lover,

Devotion to a partner,

Gladness to a friend,

Contentedness to comforting arms.

Sweet pink words

Curling like soft smoke

Wafting toward the ears of those

To whom we wish to express

Our own Salvation.

Oh! to be so overcome,

To be so wrought with naked sensation,

So blessed with eloquencia perfecta

That I could speak

With a tongue unchecked

And a crown of fire.