(the newcomer poem)
because our faith cannot be found
in any book, or any temple
held deep, it is most visible
in the spaces between us
when our hands touch in greeting
when our voices interweave
so much a part of daily living we
forget there are people
who have never imagined
this is possible
who sit in the corner of a service
with eyes filled with tears
and dream of belonging here
what a tragedy
if even one melts away
unwelcomed, only because
we could not hear their dreams.