Al-Muhyi
(The Reviver)

A potted plant
Hung beneath the mailbox
White petunias
Blue flax
Gold and scarlet cosmos
Strewn on a bed of twined greens
Like petals on the bridal path
I thought God would care for her

Returning from vacation
I see I was wrong
Browned flowers
Blighted by drought
Bend their heads in shame
Brittle stems
Poke their bony fingers
At me in blame

I leave the plant
Sitting by the garage
Waiting to be thrown out
On garbage day
An eyesore
A reproach
A reminder
Against false assumptions

Then, at long last, rain.
Dirt splatters the plastic pot rim
And there I see
Green birthings
Among the brown
Garbage day comes and goes
Baby leaves grow into adults
Chaperoning teasing teenage buds

I stare at my born-again blossoms
Shivering in the hot afternoon sun
Remembering God's promise
"You see the earth barren and dry
But when We pour down rain upon it
It swells and puts forth every kind
Of beautiful growth.
Even so will be the Resurrection."

I shiver and shiver
Thinking
How easy it would be
To throw a life
On the garbage pile