by James Schwartz
"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." —Ephesians 2:8-9
Prayers heard
Or unheard,
Spiritual delusion
Per authorities,
Summer's end
She could not,
Walk on water
As the voices,
Had commanded
She had failed,
He had failed
A test of faith,
As the voices
Grew louder,
After the lake
Recieved them,
Highly emotional
Surfacing diver,
As the voices
Grew louder.
Submerged prayers for
A salvation.
Cast into
Empty horizons.
Authors Note: The Amish communities can have a lack of access to professional mental health care and resources. Two mental health crisis resources are 988 and www.nami.org. My condolences to all affected by this tragedy.
James Schwartz is a poet and author of various poetry collections including The Literary Party: Growing Up Gay and Amish in America (Kindle, 2011) and most recently Big Island Beatnik (Alien Buddha Press, 2025). @queeraspoetry.