Genesis 32:22-32
Little boys laugh and giggle
as they wrestle with their father on the lawn:
his massive hands restrained in love,
carefully making his measure –
yet their whole joy grows.
Teenagers tease and pick on their friends
and wrestle to prove their strength, their love:
at the slightest hint of hurt,
they pull back
and clumsily, tenderly care.
Throughout the night, alone,
a sullied man wrestles
and cannot win, nor is he won;
to find his hip hurts, at a touch,
and to know, “My God!” it’s been my God,
whose so restraint
safely embraces -
almost in a kiss -
and grows and grows.