The Sixth Day

By Desi Ana Sartini

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                                                      I.

“Fresh clay, my Son.
Take it in hand.
Shaped, let it be the
crown,
the image-bearer.”

And so the
Hands that
shaped the new-formed world
reach down once more for
final touch.

Once, Spirit hovered,
then Voice summoned,
now dirt-filled Fingers
grip the earth,
pushing, pressing, rubbing--
sculpting limbs,
digits,
lobes and lashes,
every curve, joint, sinew, and pore
with attention
and delight.

Smoothing all to perfection,
He smiles.
“It is very good!”

And They kneel, all Three,
beside this one.
Spirit bends low,
breathes life into clay,
as They take up the coronation song.

                                                      II.

“Come awake, My child!
Look up and see your Father’s eyes!
Breathe deep; take My breath as your own.”

          “Child of Our delight,
          bearer of Our image,
          crown of Our creation,
          welcome to the world of life!”

“Arise, My beloved!
Take My hand and dance with Me!
Know My joy; take delight in My love.”

          ​“Sharer in Our joy,
          rester in Our peace,
          partaker in Our love,
          ​welcome to the life of fellowship with Us!”

“Drink it in, beloved child!
Tingle with My gift of life!
Soak in Our light; let your face shine in glory.”

          “Receiver of Our grace,
          steward of Our rule,
          blessed beyond compare,
          welcome to your place beside the glorious I Am!”

                                                      III.

Thus we wake
to the sparkle of Your eyes,
the radiance of Your face,
the breath of Your song.

You hold our gaze
as we lay
breathing,
feeling,
testing fingers and toes,
taking in what it means to be,
Yours.

We rise
with awkward motion
to the invitation of
Your song and
outstretched hand.
​
No sooner have we found our feet
than You sweep us through the garden,
     weaving among the trees,
our eyes transfixed
     ​by Yours.
Until at last our soul pours forth
     in laughter
          and we tumble
               onto new-sprung grass.
Catching our breath,
we bask
     in the glory of Your presence,
     Light of the world.
​
                                                      IV.

Time
     ​passes
          by
               unconcerned
          until
     at last,
soaked to the bone with
the peace of Your presence,
we rise again.

“Come, explore the garden.
See the delights I give to you,
yours to name and tend and guard.”

So we walk,
hand-in-Hand.
Every step
a thousand treasures:
     dragonflies and cherry blossoms,
          angelfish and tanagers,
     ​pine cones and raspberries,
          tree frogs and pumpkins.
Each with its own
form, motion,
aroma, tune, and hue,
joined
in the great dance
of worship.

We savor
each new fruit
exclaiming at taste and texture,
until neither tongue nor belly
can take another.

Then we sit
content
to watch awhile--
The playful birds.
     The drifting clouds.
          The swaying trees.
               The flowing water.

Our hearts join in their dance.

                                                      V.

At last You bid us follow
to the very center.

                                                 quiet
                                                  still
                                              timeless

Your voice grows solemn
in that sacred space.

“Behold the
goodness and
magnificence of the
two Great Trees!

“One We share with you:
     ​The Tree of Life.
     By its fruit
          you will live eternally.

“The other We withhold:
     The Tree of Moral Judgment.
     Seize it for yourself,
          and it will bring you certain death.

“Trust this Tree to me,
and obey My word.
Then you will live in goodness always.”

We bow
before Your wisdom
     Your goodness,
          Your love.
Then You lead us out
to lie down and rest,
complete,
     whole,
          full
as the sky blazes to life
with pink and orange flames,
the sixth setting of the sun.
And glory passes to glory
with the rising splendor of
the stars.

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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:
Defiant Hope (Fiction, October 2024)