1.

Go ahead, climb up
the Alhambra brick–

taxis can’t come here,
and the effort it takes

is only as much as
you have in mind.

2.

How often we’ve fallen for
another algorithm for bliss,
the snake oil shill of camphor

shadows. Enough. The book
is there now, a shining blossom,
big as a magnolia bloom.

Blank. To be written. Yes, we
think–at last I’m back to myself.
Climb there too. The beautiful

street vendors are selling
therefores. The dark wine
of place. Buy some. But

carefully pluck the book, its soft
leather bent just enough to say,
yes, climb the brick passages.

3.

It may be when you wake
you’ll believe you’ve had
a stroke, but the sunlight

in its morning patterns will
teach that’s OK as well–
the world goes on without

you, us, and that’s always
been OK as well. A lesson in

belonging. Everyone’s place in
the story of the Alhambra.

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Rev. Dr. David Breeden

Senior Minister at First Unitarian Society, Minneapolis, MN

Rev. David Breeden, PhD, began his service as Senior Minister of the First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis in August 2013.He holds an MFA degree from The Iowa Writers' Workshop, a PhD from the Center for Writers at the University of Southern Mississippi, and a Master of Divinity from Meadville Lombard Theological School.Rev. David serves on the board of the American Humanist Association Center for Education and is adjunct faculty at Meadville Lombard Theological Seminary.

David Breeden earned an MFA degree from The Iowa Writers' Workshop, a PhD from the Center for Writers at the University of Southern Mississippi, and a Master of Divinity from Meadville Lombard Theological School. He has published several books of poetry, translations, and essays. His blog and sermons can be found at www.FirstUnitarian.org

Latest posts by Rev. Dr. David Breeden (see all)

• The Crooked Timber of Ourselves - May 1, 2020
• Justice, Elections, and Whiteness - November 6, 2014
• Conscience and Choosing the Hill to Die On - October 30, 2014