You Come and Go
as Mary Magdalene to Christ

You come and go and in your going stay,
And as you take your place you take your leave:
Away from me, return again I pray.

You visit me, and when you go your way
I wonder what you render by your leave:
You come and go and in your going stay.

The more I harbor you the more you stray
From my affection which you make and leave:
Away from me, return again I pray.

I cannot bear to have you seize and play
Me as a toy which you will take or leave:
You come and go and in your going stay.

I stumble darkly in your fully day,
Am blind and cannot know you till you leave:
Away from me return again, I pray.

I suitor you too much to hear you say
That you will never leave unless you leave:
You come and go and in your going stay
Away from me. Return again I pray.
—Mark Stevick

Unless I Say I Can I Can't
as Nicodemus to Christ

Unless I say I can I say I can’t,
I will not have it any other way,
I’m satisfied with this and do not want.
Unless I say I do I say I don’t
And don’t intend to do a thing halfway,
Unless I say I can I say I can’t.
And if I think I will I think I won’t
Be overwhelmed or softly led astray,
I’m satisfied with this and do not want.
And you, please don’t imagine that you daunt
Me-even now I’m writing you away!
Unless I say I can I say I can’t.
Impervious I am not that you taunt
Me with my own disdain and make me sway.
I’m satisfied with this and do not want.
But if a moment I allow you haunt
Me, hear the words I can and cannot say
Unless I say I can, I say I can’t
Be satisfied with this I do not want.
—Mark Stevick