Jacob's Ladder

Gary Boelhower, a local Duluth resident, mentor and friend was awarded the 2012 Foley Prize in poetry from America magazine for his poem "Jacob's Ladder." The poem appears in the current issue of America and a reading is available on the America magazine website www.americamagazine.org His book Marrow, Muscle, Flight won the Midwest Book Award from the 12-state Midwest Independent Publishers Association. To me this poem is more like a prayer. It is a beautiful reminder of shifting our perspective of life and seeing through eyes that are God-focused, and to notice the way in which so much of life is a blessing, a miracle.




Jacob's Ladder
Gary Boelhower | JUNE 4, 2012

The editors of America are pleased to present the winner of the 2012 Foley Poetry Award, given in honor of William T. Foley, M.D.

When you are on the ladder with a paint brush
twenty feet of air between you and the ground
do not swing in anger or fear at the yellow jackets.

If angels are ascending and descending the ladder
of your spine let them stretch their strands of light
into the small spaces between the discs of bone.

When you notice the way your heart can lean
toward shadow pay attention to the story
you keep telling yourself as if it were the truth.

If you are keeping track of the times you
fold the laundry or take out the garbage
you are not an angel ascending or descending.

When you curse the baby bunny eating lettuce
from the garden it is time to notice and listen
how the angels sing of mercy and bread.

If the spider is crawling up your sleeve
use your opposable thumb and consider the vow
of the bodhisattva and the levels of humility.

When you forget to roll up the car window
before the rain storm think of each silver drop
as an angel descending with blessed reminders.