A PSALM Poem by Rutger Kopland

The green pastures the still waters
on the wallpaper in my room -
as a frightened child I believed
in wallpaper

when my mother had said prayers for me
and I had been forgiven for one day more
I was left behind among
motionless horses and cattle,
a foundling laid in a world
of grass

now that once again I have to go
through god's pastures I find no path
to take me back, only a small hand
clasped in mine that tightens
when the enormous bodies
of the cattle grunt and snuffle
with peace.