To Die, at Last

Baptized,
Quite literally,
He smiled.

Up from the water,
He trudged
—no, not trudged,
He was without
Burden.

Free,
Maybe
He had tears in his eyes—
But too hard to tell
With the water
Washing.

Unburdened now,
That's the answer.
Slavery now,
That's the answer too.

And he found—
Because I lost faith,
He loved me.
And he loved.

When freedom in slavery
Tackled him,
Tortured him.
He learned the meaning
Of baptism.

And it's always yours.
And he's always yours.

And he loved.
And he's loved.