by Eloise Bruce

A violent storm raged in this night’s dream
tearing the door off its hinges. In the eye
of the deluge, I gathered the splintered wood 
and broken glass, only to find the door
had reassembled itself and I was locked outside.
 
Abruptly wakened into the morning
by the slurred whistle and trill, a cardinal
in the holly, cheer, cheer, cheer. Rejoice,
“He shall cover thee with his feathers,
and under His wings shall thou trust: 
His truth shall be thy shield and buckler.”
 
Each surrender brings the caress of wings
and in birdsong I am restored.

---

Eloise Bruce is a member of the board of stewards of her local African Methodist Episcopal Church. Her first book of poetry Rattle was published by (CavanKerry Press). Her second Scud Clouds, (Ragged Sky Press), which was written with her husband David Keller. It is about their journey with a rare form of dementia. She is a member of the poetry critique and performance group Cool Women and the youth editor at RavensPerch Journal. Her work has been published in American Letters and Commentary, Entelechy Review, Caesura, Lips Poetry Journal, and Sou’wester Literary Magazine among others.Eloise has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize.