The 60-Second Sabbath

heaven

  • Dismissal

    Give me a balcony(somewhere on the East coast of Mexico),air scented with hidden hyacinth(sweet, exotic, sensual),a waning moon and the evening's first star(just freed from the hazy horizon),and a fresh-pressed volume of poetry(Rumi? Oliver? Collins?). You may leave now. Text… Continue reading

  • If It Comes to That

    If it comes to thatI shall travel aloneto that far shore;I shall worshipand know rapture. Praise is never a lonely pursuit;union defines adoration.Who can separate the Loverfrom the Beloved? Text and image © 2014 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved.… Continue reading

  • Fox of Heaven

    With your gentle jawscarry me by my neck's scruffout of the bitter coldback to the warmth of the denwith its root walls and familiar smells. Drop me with my siblingsso we squirm and settle,safe with each otherand with you, almighty… Continue reading

  • Undefended

    I standundefended. I cannotbut lovewhat is. What choice have Ibut to discover heavennow,here. Text and image © 2013 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved. Continue reading

  • Heaven, It Turns Out…

    How like Godto reverse our expectations: Heaven, it turns out,isn't something toward which we ascend.No, the journey to heavenrequires one to descend,in a steady, downward spiral,through countless convoluted passageways,as darkness deepens,and whatever baggage you've been clutchingscrapes awayas you squeeze through… Continue reading

  • The Choice Is Yours

    Catherine of Siena tells us, "It's heaven,all the way to heaven.It's hell,all the way to hell." Which road have you chosen? Jesus tells us, "The kingdom is here and now,within you,available to thosewith open eyes and hearts." Where do you… Continue reading

  • The Womb

    I'm in the marketfor a new womb;I'm ready to begin again.  They aren't sold on Amazon;I checked. One can a rent a wombif you're looking to have a babybut can't do it yourself…or opt not to. But I seek a… Continue reading

  • Journey’s End

    When I finally made it to the kingdom,weary from travel,hungry and eager to bathe,they treated me like royalty. And the next to arrive,also worn, starving and smelly–she, too, was welcomedwith a crown, a scepter and a robe. When bedtime arrived,out… Continue reading

  • The Ticket to Heaven

    "What's this?" Jesus asked his disciples.He held up a rectangular slip of paper. "Looks like a light-rail pass,"said Peter. Jesus flipped it over:one the back, in large letters,he'd written the word HEAVEN."What's this?" he asked.  "Oh, oh, I know!" said… Continue reading

  • Lazurus

    In an instant,all was light–he stumbled,hobbled by strips of cloth,toward an open doorway,beyond which waited love. Where had he been these last few days?He recalled vague murmurs, voices, whispers…"…this is death, but wait, just wait…"He'd been ready to move on,… Continue reading