THE VALLEY OF ELAH

There is something to be said

for keeping our distance.

It worked for David

and his slingshot.

It’s what made felling

Goliath possible—

who, incidentally, came

ill-equipped and over-dressed

to the Valley of Elah. Distance

is a great teacher.

It gives us pause, the chance

to take a breath. Then,

awake again to all our senses,
we come to whatever

battle is before us
with the clarity and precision,

the courage, faith and strength,
to slay any foe, ugly and armored,

like we would an ogre blinded

by his own fable.