Word in the word is
below our feet it remains so
we bend shovels digging
trying our best
with the hands we have
to lift and turn the dirt
Word is we try our best
in work and service
to feel
between the surface
to break against it branching out
like rice thrown out to air
To break against it branching out
between the surface
to feel
in work and service
Word is we try our best
to lift and turn the dirt
With the hands we have
trying our best
We bend shovels digging
Below our feet it remains so
Word on the word is
it’s here between us
next to above beneath us
The word follows and precedes us
assembles like dirt like dust
in all the corners of our lives
Our singular life
The word is good it’s alive
Its breath in our breast
raising feral our lungs
The breadth of the work’s itself the word
raising feral our lungs
It’s breath in our breast
The word is good it’s alive
Our singular life
in all the corners of our lives
Assembles like dirt like dust
the word follows and precedes us
Next to above beneath us
it’s here between us
Word on the word is
we’ll know it when we see it
We’ll see when we believe it
Word is this isn’t labor
as we bend to shift dirt shift clay
Oh the lessons
we’ve been learning
and every day
there’s tables turning
Shovels digging hands digging
Plot thickening like butter churning
shovels digging hands digging
there’s tables turning
And every day
we’ve been learning
Oh the lessons
as we bend to shift dirt shift clay
Word is this isn’t labor
We’ll see when we believe it
We’ll know it when we see it
Word on the word is
we could
become
the way
it flowers
© C. LaSandra Cummings 2026