with good brothers
we without vision without light inner or ocular
we who perish like the flower in the field wait for light

this one wronged
beaten by his own father whipped
but when he became a man he not only forgave his father
who had little in life and little opportunity
he bought him a house and placed his father on firm ground
the image of him and his father embracing
weeping on one another’s necks stays with me forever o God

you are a poet of reconciliation
i mean she and i see you as a poet
of blessing we who were homeless exiled sick with longing
you blessed us all

This article appears in February 5 2018.

Shann Ray’s work has appeared in Poetry, Esquire, McSweeney's and Narrative. Honors include a National Endowment for the Arts Literature Fellowship and an American Book Award. He teaches at Gonzaga University and is married, with three daughters.