ASCENSION DAY SERMON

Our preacher
breaches liturgical etiquette
yet again.

Wearing an "Air Jesus" tee shirt
in lieu of a vestment
he abandons his place at the lectern
moves out among us
embraces each one
with words of thanks
encouragement
blessing.

Though puzzled we smile
as this master of parable
works the crowd.

And then he is gone--
not into the sky so far as we know
but out the door with a cryptic wave.

He does not come back.
Our smiles fade.
Our eyes brim with questions.

Too soon for conjecture
no one dares speak aloud
but the thought that rocks the silence is,

What now?

Veneta Masson writes from the New Community Church in Washington DC.

Here is a list of recent articles & poems by Veneta Masson

• Admission (poem)
• The Language of Hearts
• The Language of the Hearts (poetry from her book)
• Rehab at Florida Avenue Grill (poetry from her book)
• Witness (poem)
• Ascension Day Sermon (poem)
• My Story, My Song
       Don't Get Sick on an Unripe Tomorrow (poem)