Come, Pass Over Us

Come, Pass Over Us

Hannah Norris

where are the grape vines
(hung their necks
around the trellis)
wine swirled
in the sink
stained red

swirling
the walls are suffocating and
the hurricane bursts
from the river
in our kitchen,
joins the flood in the street

  (watch the water pour)

 we broke the bread
tonight, screams and cries, anguish fear
hounding, echoing outside,
we drank the wine,
the red blood cruelty,
racing, pumping through (Y)our veins
as our vision dims and shrinks
             (Your eyes are open)

You said perfect love casts out
fear
that love drenched in red
wine crushed,
Your fingers are stained,
the red skins cling
to Your palms,
Your wrists scarred

did the goblet burn You?
are Your lips blistered, bruised?

You (of white robes),
stainless, flawless,
Your body now scarred
and red,
(dark as midnight)

will You paint our door?
will You drop the blood
as shield on the posts?
will You come kneel with us

and weep?

and hope —

---

Hannah Norris
Poet & Trauma Care Worker

Photography by Mathilde Langevin