“What the Psalmist Knew” uses the golden shovel poetic form, which was invented by contemporary poet Terrance Hayes with his poem of that name. In this form, the last words of each line, read in order, form a line from an existing poem (Hayes's poem is an homage to “We Real Cool” by Gwendolyn Brooks). I used it here to express what I feel when I read one of my favorite lines of Scripture, Psalms 98:8.

What the Psalmist Knew

After 98:8

The summer wind is warm for you. Let

it cradle you, and rock. And when the

autumn's earthtilt goldens light, and rivers

chill, hear solace crackling in brown leaves. Through clap

of thunder, grip of ice, know you rest in hands

of earth and sky. Beneath the

naked mud, or snow, or drought-land, hills

ache with hidden green. Make a leap

of faith: drink in the sunrise, for

all revolves, and pain is no truer than joy

Kimberly Gladman