Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Guests

The LORD appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, as he was sitting at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day. 2 He looked up and saw three men standing near him . . .
                    -Genesis 18:1-2a (NRSV)

Would we have known the LORD (NRSV) 
among them? 
I can't do the math.
Maybe it is like other God sightings for which one's ecstasy is another's blind spot, 
where tale of shame and head of glory adhere to the same nickel 
too long passing hands
among tired editors.
Just another hot day in the middle latitudes; 
the interminable age of the Dog Star, 
where, out there somewhere, under a white sky,
a wrinkled pair pulls a few weeds in the front yard
by the trellis hung with wilting roses
wondering where it all went 
not quite right. 

Ishmael will only see three enemies:
he will seal his borders.
Isaac will feel his way along by rote,
blind to the world.

Perhaps we may, indeed, see 
strangers at the door
waiting to be known.

We can only hope.

© 2010 Andy Gay