but nothing not even universes

happen without revision

earth was confusion

there was light

there was evening

with less than a second

to get it right —too tight

it tears apart, too loose

it balls back up —even Wisdom

had to practice in the beginning

Twice nominated for the 2023 Pushcart Prize, Elder Gideon is the author of two poetry collections Gnostic Triptych and Aegis of Waves (Atmosphere Press) and co-author with Tau Malachi of Gnosis of Guadalupe (EPS Press, 2017). His poems and sculptures have appeared in dozens of journals. He’s an alumnus of the 2022 Kenyon Review Summer Conference and the 2021 Community of Writers. A veteran English teacher-activist and faith leader of a mystical Christian tradition, Gideon lives to connect. Reach out to him @elder.gideon or eldergideon@gmail.com.