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House of Bread (Alma 7)

TitleHouse of Bread (Alma 7)
Publication TypeBook Chapter
Year of Publication2019
AuthorsAnderson, Sharon Price
Book TitleThe Glory of the Son
Pagination21-22
PublisherTime Lines Etc.
CityOrem, UT
KeywordsPoetry

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House of Bread

 
Sun scorches fields and stubble
until nothing grows but hunger.
In dust of a fainting future, 
Elimelech and family flee to Moab.
 
Through widowed tears, 
Naomi counts foreign years 
on fingers of two empty hands, 
one for each former son, 
then learns the Lord again visits
the people of His house with bread.
 
Daughters-in-law divide. With
Orpah’s farewell kiss on her face 
and faithful Ruth by her side,
Naomi trudges back to Bethlehem.
 
Bethlehem—
ground of gleaning
and bringing in the grain,
of threshing, grinding, leavening.
From kneading trough  
Ruth shapes loaf and life
as wife of kinsman Boaz,
redeemed to raise inheritance 
for the dead, to fill belly, heart—
Obed, Jesse, David.
 
Through cycles of centuries 
seasons pass, 
gaunt, golden, grim, fat. 
Again the table is spread.
Once sheep and oxen gathered 
around stone manger to be fed.
Today, we worship at the altar
in the House of Living Bread.
 

 

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Scripture Reference

Alma 7:1-27