Please God make me strong—please, God, make me brave.
By “strong” I mean steady, steadying, built deep into you.
Do I mean “beautiful”? Like roses in Mary’s hand or the nape of Sebastian’s neck—
                  like a golden feather, like a ship aflame.
Make me—make me. I am clay and would like to be bronze. I am dull and would like to be bright.
                  Polish my shadow until I am brilliant as night.