ADVENT
13.
~John 8
It must have been fear—
that most compelling feeling—
that attached them
to your Jesus. Why else
would anyone follow
a fellow who goes on
and on about above
and below, about
himself and his distant
father? And worse—O
worse!—a fellow who sees
people (like the woman
caught in the act)
as opportunities
for tedious theologizing.
You scared them,
John Gospeller.
They believed they’d be
condemned without
your esoteric creed.
It must have been fear.
Likely, it still is.
WARNING
Dear ones,
Beware of the tiny gods frightened men
Create
~Hafiz, “Tiny Gods”
Beware of tiny gods,
so easily displeased
when humans break
the rules. The ones
who are obsessed
with doom, allow
no room for breath
or ease. The tiny gods
who make the fear
of life and death,
who mistrust peace,
who are themselves,
and made by, fools.
WRITE WHAT YOU’VE FORGOTTEN
IF YOU CAN REMEMBER IT
Kari’s #4
I have forgotten how to sleep. Or
haven’t I? Don’t I remember nights
of childhood fears, the robber
climbing through my window,
my parents’ sudden death,
the terrible sound of thunder?
Can’t I remember nights
in my youth, staring
at the moonlit flowers on my ceiling,
wondering if I’d ever be loved?
Maybe I’ve forgotten
the crying baby,
the toddler with the earache.
I expect I have forgotten
lying awake listening
to fighter planes roaring
through cold war exercises,
wondering if my husband knew
he was right above our bed.
