The Seventh Day

By Desi Ana Sartini

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Light stretches,
rolling out across the land,
warming the face of the earth,
raising a gentle breeze,
soft upon our skin.

Robin and rooster proclaim the morning,
stirring us
to joy of day.

A glow shines
from the heart of the garden,
drawing,
summoning,
growing in
radiant splendor
until it outshines the risen sun, and
the whole garden blazes with glory.
Our heart leaps.

For You come,
descending in all Your fullness.
Sand melts to
sapphire glass
beneath Your feet.

The host heaven assembles all around.
Your voice rushes through the garden
a thundering waterfall:
​
          “I take the earth to be My kingdom,
          the image bearer to be the steward of my rule.
          I set my throne in Eden,
          the place of my rest.”

A chorus rises all around,
as all the host of heaven proclaim:

          “Holy, holy, holy is the Eternal One,
          Yahweh Almighty!
          The whole earth is full of Your glory!”

We bow in the dust of the earth,
face to clay:

          “You have created all things.
          Worthy, worthy, worthy is our God and King
          to receive all worship,
          for in You we live and
                    move and
                              have our being.”

Your voice pours over us,
a rushing stream:

“Rise, my child, image-bearer.”

We rise and look You full in the face.
Your face!
Radiant beauty from which all others echo.
Eyes that see straight to the depths of our soul.
Ears that hear the faintest whispers of our heart.
Mouth that speaks mountains,
subdues seas,
kindles stars,
and anoints us
bearers of that image.

Rapt we stand,
a moment, a day, a thousand years,
who can say?
Glory inexhaustible--
what time could suffice to behold it?
Before You, a diamond of infinite facets
would hold no allure.

You speak:

          “Be fruitful and multiply!
          Fill the earth and subdue it.
          For My kingdom is your kingdom,
          My rule, your rule.
          Where you dwell, I will dwell,
          and in Me you will find your rest
          ​as you carry out My rule on the earth.”

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Desi Ana Sartini writes from SE Asia, where she has immersed herself in language. She studies Malay literature by day, Hebrew poetry by night and cake-making on the weekends. You can read more of her work at www.breathanddust.com.

Desi's other work on Foreshadow:
The Sixth Day (Poetry, November 2024)
Defiant Hope (Fiction, October 2024)