Worship

These walls
are onion
thin, translucent,

we come
early morning
to shed
all we've
gathered over
the week,
to leave
it here

with each
layer peeled,
tears, with
each layer
peeled, more
tears

we find
there is
no end,
no middle
inside,

outside,
every
creature
peers in
at us,
nods to
scripture,
coos
to hymn

they place
offerings of
nut, twig,
nest-string
and seed
on sidewalks'
edge for
us

if you
listen closely
during silent
prayer you
can hear
them, if
you watch
carefully on
your walk
home, you
can see
their gifts