Prophetess Juanita Bynum, ‘typing in tongues’ on social media, 2011
the hands speak where tongues fail
(and if you can’t feel you must feel)
across the Atlantic, I am transcribing
the pastor’s elbow, at the self-service
counter narratives lose themselves
too easily in unstamped volumes
where I learn to tune into the distance
lying between prayer and promise
you will never leave nor forsake me
and my hope is within you, my faith
reaching for mustard, reaching for
the recorder at the fast food chain
reacts to this unvoiced congealment
of spirit-tongue to consonant-heavy keys
I transcribe this interview with a man
of God who names me sin in tongue-talk
she decipheress prophetess prayer
warrior and I guarded and girded in
my youth and the bible shaking within
and I can still feel even if I can’t feel