Sunday, May 31, 2009

PRODIGAL RUNNING

Just as the acolytes 
     lead the minister in 
          you betray your pew and

push back the choir milling
     in their robes,  they nod, piously, 
          laying their blessings on you.

Outside a sea of shepherds,
    penitents in rags, drunkards
         and google-eyed idiots

with their praying hands, 
     god's messengers reaching
          to baptise you in the 

divine cosmos.  You dash 
     through mustard fields, 
          Judas stumbling in ditches 

and fall under the grace 
     of cedars in the potters
          field and waken in the deep 

dew weeds, the firmament 
     staring down from god's eye,
          an eclipse, the heavens 

bathing you in the sweat 
     of the Lord's kiss and last 
          benediction, the radiance

of disorder.  "This 
     is what Lewis Carroll 
          meant!" you stammer 

to the night and all its 
     holiness.  "This is the 
          rare light, the revelation!,   

the illuminata!"  And now
     it's your burden to pass.

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