POETRY

Joseph and the Turtle Doves One nested within each upturned palm, he held them as if to loft them into flight, soft warm breasts rapidly beating within, as below the extended belly of Mary that first morning she let his coarse hand feel with fingers extended the heartbeat and head turned downward toward pubic line, soft and unmistakably private to her yet -- the intimacy of that moment of heart pulse that had made him unmistakably father. But instead of lofting the cooing doves into flight, reluctantly he handed them over as offering, as if already he knew Jesus would one day be bound over as sacrifice. Flight -- flight would come, but it would be their flight, his and his true turtle doves, hidden beneath an angel’s cape toward Egypt. -- Chet Corey    Bloomington, Minn.

Haiku Lake like beveled glass Hidden deep within her depths Stories from our past -- Sr. Ann Marie Slavin, OSF    Aston, Pa.

Note to poets: Short lines preferred. Poetry is published in a newspaper column only 35 characters wide, counting punctuation and spaces. Submit poems to Poetry, NCR, PO Box 411009, Kansas City MO 64141-1009, or e-mail at poetry@ncronline.org.

National Catholic Reporter, November 23, 2007