Shrouded
Woman of the veil, exhaling
silence,
let me breathe in the presence
of Almighty God:
Father-Mother of Abraham,
Isaac, Jacob, Judah, Joseph,
Jesus, and, yes, your Ishmael.
Will you remain with him,
wild,
in a desert wilderness,
waiting to be blessed
as promised,
or will you show your face
as Hagar and I – in peace –
have come to make amends
with our kin, Sarah?
May we three be, too,
impressed by One
Living God,
regardless of our heritage
or most contented clan.
Show yourself just
to your own daughters,
if you must,
but let my sons see
the small dove
sheltered in your hand.
Mary Harwell Sayler
