I will stand on your city steps
and call out the lies of your leaders
I will feed the hungry without permits
I will heal without license
Even if you silence me
the stones will cry out
I will block traffic and shut down streets
I will ride a donkey through your parade
of tanks and soldiers
Even if you silence me
the stones will cry out
I will cherish sex workers for their work
and mystics for their visions
I will embrace homeless wanderers
and give them keys to my every hidden secret
Even if you silence me
the stones will cry out
I will drink in public
and eat forbidden fruit, licking juice from my fingers
I will strip naked
and caress the feet of beautiful men
while women twine their hair around my toes
Even if you silence me
the stones will cry out
I will greet disease with a kiss
I will dismiss bribery with scorn
I will laugh at your critique
I will teach what you have banned
I will break criminals out of prison
I will die to resurrect before I cower
Even if you silence me
the stones will cry out
*and a blessed Triduum and Easter to you all!*
The table laid,
a Sunday made of palms intertwined
and sweetest wine.
A breeze of rising bread and
the caress of rich spice
that carries memories of woman’s hair
and paradise-warmed skin.
We wait for you,
heart and hand and door open.
Enter us with your spirit,
Consume us with healing fire,
surrender as a gift.
We lift my eyes to the morning,
receiving you as
the sun/Son.
Image Description: a warm colorful sunset over water with a rocky beach scene with the words: I will stand on your city steps and call out the lies of your leaders. I will feed the hungry without permits. I will heal without license. Even if you silence me the stones will cry out. -Carla Christopher
Rev. Carla Christopher (she/hers) is Assistant to the Bishop in Charge of Justice Ministries for Lower Susquehanna Synod in central Pennsylvania and a multicultural Black woman who adores being a queer lesbian-ish femme.