this was no Pentecost
tongues of fire wrapping the faithful;
simply a baptismal service
where she waited in line
with the 12-year-olds,
but she waited 42 years
to step into
water chest high
her hand gripping the baptistery ledge
as if that could stop drowning
he said the words
& took her under
in an exercise of faith
fighting fear
she let him
tears crowded my own eyes
as hers opened underwater;
an everyday transcendence
Susan Daniels Poetry 
A beautiful, beautiful image. Wow!
-Jennifer
Thanks Jennifer!
My mom was, to put it simply, terrified of water. For her to finally ask to be baptized by total immersion (which is what we baptists do) was extremely brave, and for me to be able to see it done was an exquisite gift. It was a beautiful experience, and my poem regarding that experience comes nowhere near capturing it… But I had to **say something ** about it!
Reblogged this on Susan Daniels Poetry and commented:
Recycling an older poem that I would ADORE feedback on!
Vivid and real …. loved the poem !!!
Thank you!
After reading this beautiful poem, I wrote something. But it came out to be too long to post it here. So it’s on my blog as one of Story Poems “I can still visualize”. I’d appreciate if you’d take a look at it there.
Oh, I am so glad it inspired you! I am heading over there right now!