Vapor - Paige Puckett

Each life is but a vapor breathed and dissipated
like fog from a child's breath on a cold glass window
as he awaits winter's snow, palms pressed to the pane.
A vapor that disappears in brief moments,
but pauses long enough to trace words with fingertips.
And what of the culmination of our lives?
Earth heaves one long sigh, a gentle moan
and we read words traced on eternity's cold window.
Let there be Life.

In the space between seven and eight,
He breathed into dirt and bones born from my body.
In the long moments waiting for him to breathe
were nothing but heartbeats and prayer.
Breathless, hand in hand, foreheads pressed together,
we cried out to the Author of eternity.
Life, Giver of life, please breathe life into him.
We exhaled a sigh of relief at his first gulp and cry.

I know nothing other than this present vapor of a life,
and it seems to me like an eternity is just too brief.
Timelessness it etched onto my soul
like an engraving on a pocket watch – you are Mine.
As the second hand moves around the face
I am changed, I am changed, I am changed…
A quick puff to the glass and I rub it on my pants' leg.
Has a year gone by?

Contributors to the dirtydish online

Over the past three years, we have had the pleasure or working with amazing writers and artists. The following are the people that have helped make the DDO happen. Past editors are in bold.

Anna Adams, Melanie Amerson, Angie Armstrong, Jenn Arthur, Martha Bennett, Ida Best, Jason Boone, Joni Boone, Samhita Brown, Claire Cain, Whitney Chambers, Amy Cochran, Angela Davis, Andi Drew, Holly Dwan, Danielle Ericksen, Alex Ford, Virginia Hebert, Angela Gardener, Sharon Glazener, Nicole Griffin, Stacy Gunter, Amy Gusefski, Mike Gusefski, Truly Gwaltney, Jessica Hamm, Courtney Hathaway, Jennifer Haydysch, Virginia Hebert, Kimberly Humphrey, Dustin 'Deuce' Kidd, Katie Kinsella, Megan Jerse, Erika Lizotte, Sarah McCoy, May Mitchell, Jessica Orr, Beth Parent, Heather Patterson, Paige Puckett, Marcy Rader-Rhodenbaugh, Jennifer Rocha, Jane Schelbe, Jon Scott, Sarah Rice Scott, Jen Stancil, Christin Stevens, Matt Stevens, Matt Suffern, Dallas Thompson, Greg Turmel, Teva Webber, Mary Williamson, Jessica Winebrenner, Renee Wolk, Lisa Wood, Erin Wright, Matt Wood, Geoff Wood