Beaded Waves
The sand waits
for the waves
to come home.
But they cannot
stay. The horizon
calls them
back to the edge
of the world
closest to heaven
but first they must
do the work God asks
and exchange brine
for the healing balm
they carry in each
beaded roll.
Philip C. Kolin
Philip C. Kolin, Professor of English at the University of Southern Mississippi, has published four books of poems, including Deep Wonder: Poems (Grey Owl Press, 2000) and, most recently, A Parable of Women: Poems (Yazoo River Press, 2009). More than 200 of his poems have appeared in or are forthcoming in such journals as Christian Century, America, St. Austin Review, Christianity and Literature, Michigan Quarterly Review, Windhover, Seminary Ridge Review, Louisiana Literature, Blue Collar Review, St. Anthony Messenger, South Carolina Review, etc. Kolin is also the founding editor of Vineyards: A Journal of Christian Poetry (www.vineyardspoetry.com) . He was educated by the Jesuits and the Dominicans and considers St. Joseph his patron.
