Orente

by Oyindamola Shoola

After the storm that happened on Thursday,
some looked away
to the heavens
for the rainbow and other signs
from God and I looked at you.


I have heard a thousand
ways to find God.
"Go to the mountains" they say,
"in stillness and silence, He'll come your way,"
but Orente, I tell them, "when I look into your eyes,
I feel as though I am beholding God's gaze.
And to pursue you, I'll climb the mountains
and if you desire, forever live in stillness."


Orente, all these other men,
who have not heard the Hallelujah
of your voice, or leaned on the Amen
of your skin, nor seen the fire
your body burns into my mind
will never know how it feels to know God
intimately and have the whole world.