hands clapping, image by Gigxels.com, on Pixabay,
modified to black and white
Clap Hands
& break into the songs in my poem.
This poem, hosanna breaking from my lips,
changing my body in the aura of my Saviour.
This poem, hallelujah in my bones,
crackling my knees into full prostrate. Bring
forth His royal diadem, bring forth His royal diadem
& crown Him. Clap hands & ascend
into my poem. Look to His pierced sides
& come, come into the concert at the upper room.
This poem, bursting from my soul
like pressured water from the throat
of a fountain. This poem, Pentecost tempest
lounging in my belly like the settling
of a swirling thing. I will clap hands
& sing this way & that way in the languages
only my spirit knows. This fire,
this cloven tongue, wells up an inferno,
a raging inside my loins. Clap hands
& wonder like Peter before the
transfigured Christ. The excellency
of the hands that carve these things
before time. Clap hands
& break into chants & hear them
echo back to you from the depths.
He dwells in the praise of His
people. Clap, clap hands & throw
them wide & wild, throw them here & there
for the joy within, for the joy
that transcends my momentary affliction
which works for me far, eternal weights of glory.
Clap hands.
References: Psalm 22:3, 2 Corinthians 4:17, and
"All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name,” lyrics by Edward Perronet
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Adesina Ajala, a 2022 Fellow of the Global Arts in Medicine (AiM), is a medical doctor & cardiothoracic surgery enthusiast. He loves words—their glitz, gleam, & glories, fine & refined words blown from calloused hands & blistered lips. Winner, Inaugural Freedom Voices Poetry Writing Prize (2019) & Winner, 2020/2021 Poetic Wednesdays Initiative Poetry Contest, Adesina's poems have appeared in Parousia Magazine, Konya Shamsrumi, LAUMED Journal, Heart of Flesh Literary Journal, The Wild Word, IHRAF Publishes & elsewhere. He's on Twitter/IG as: adesina_ajala.
March 2024 issue