RITA S SPALDING

 

 

In the Name of God

 

how can anyone pretend

to know the will of god

any better than birds know

the will of the wind

 

it is not the place of us

to determine that we are

more knowledgeable than

the source we call creator

 

nor that we are better

than our brothers because

we think differently than they

when they lift their burdens

 

or that we are stronger than

our sisters because we believe

in something they do not

pompous to proclaim our power

 

in the name of earth’s birth

over the grass and trees

and feet that cross it all

over the animals of our existence

 

when did we forget all life

comes from the same source

when did we start to believe

that death can escape us

 

when did we become strong

because we stomp on the weakest

or kill the smallest of seeds

because we know we can

 

the importance of being right

is not important at all

we are not travelers by chance

we do not go alone in dark or light

 

what is the face of god

if not all the breath of life

what is this being of deity

if not the essence of why we are here

 

we humans gave it the name of god

when it was not our job to name it

this energy that spins our thoughts

this source from which we all come

 

if we believe in our existence

then we must believe we cannot

even pretend to reign over all that

is around us or this god we named

 

in the end we are smaller than

the birds who kiss the wind

 

   

 

 

We Ride at Dawn

 

1.

dark sky above my breath

of iced powdery pillows

ask more of the lungs of the heart

of the years that brought us here

on winding roads hills and curves

and snow-covered ambitions

 

frozen stream

small opening of water

gurgles pour slowly over

jagged limestone of life

beyond timid strength

weakened legs begin to bow

the promise of change is coming

 

pump upward marches onward

worn shoes steady beat

deliberate one foot ahead

of warblers starlings

a cardinal here a robin there

we are all morning bluebirds

singing our wobbly songs

we grow stronger with each note

 

2.

bold faced sun arrives

a break in the darkness

pale orange then bright blue

fans its light over small marchers

moving below on the ribboned road

like babies crawling to mothers

learning to stand then walk

then carry the running torch of flames

 

3.

the sky is filled with darkness

breath flows like a steady drum beat

pushes its shout through strong lungs

ready to confront the hardest path

a line has been drawn in the snow

we walk one step at a time

wearing worn running shoes

wearing snow boots in the fire

the journey begins beyond ice

beyond the snow and our timid strength

 

sweat bend and wake from yawning

electric in our ears our singing begins

in the streets we cried our tears

eleven gunshots screamed their start

we are rhythmic music side by side

we are a foaming ocean

we are thousands in formation

we are birds gathering from different flocks

we are mighty migrations

we lock arms together in flight

we are a ready force

we ride at dawn

 

 

RITA S SPALDING

 

 

RITA S SPALDING: Award winning poet Rita S. Spalding has been published in 18 Calliope anthologies, National Library of Poetry, AX-POW Magazine, The Heartland Review, Kentucky Monthly Magazine, Keeping the Flame Alive, Fallen, Rebirth, The Rye Whiskey Review, Walden’s Poetry and Reviews, Poet-Tree Magazine, American Poet, Mays Publishing and Kentucky Humanities. Her books include Abstract Ribbons, What is Beauty, and The Eighth. She has been featured in numerous podcasts and the Kentucky Author Celebration, Kentucky Writer Celebration, Insomniacathon, Vagabond Poet National Tour, Endless Horizon, and 2025 Ohio Valley Folkways Symposium. She gives poetry readings regionally and nationally and will be a part of the 2026 Gonzofst in New York Ci. Her akphraistic poetry has been exhibited alongside Indiana artist Crystal Carol. Her poetry also appears in the Madison, IN, Poetry in Windows Project.