Green Things

Faith, they say, is a seed that grows.
It swells, and as a mother I can say
that things inside swelling are not always
pleasant. But what sort of growing is always pleasant?

It swells. And as a mother, let me say—
growing things can pierce inside, an ache most
pleasant, but what sort of growing is always pleasant?
Blood happens, and ribs crack as time passes.

Growing things can pierce inside, an ache most
trying. Young things can die and be cut off
as blood happens. And ribs may crack as time passes
and thorns pierce through. A young plant is fragile.

Even in trying, young things can die and be cut off
when waves of pain move through you, as your insides hurt
with thorns piercing through. A young plant is fragile
and if you hold back the water, it will soon die back.

When waves of pain pass through you, when your insides hurt
because you have been stretched too far to keep
giving forth your waters, the bud will soon die back.
It will soon seem to die, but anything green lives still.

Because you have been stretched too far to keep
a bud alive over winters of creeping doubt
it will soon seem to die. But anything green lives still
and if you see green in the stem you cut, it lives.

A plant that lives over winters of creeping doubt
is a things that can still grow. Cut it. Cut it.
If you see green in the stem you cut, it lives.
If you see that green inside, the Word still lives.