Friday, November 13, 2009

Polemics

Amid the shouts of euthanasia death
panels and water the tree of liberty
Eat my flesh and drink my blood
As if we need more outrageous harangue
To insult the intelligent and rile the ridiculous.
Can’t we all just get away from there
to find accord in covenant?
Blood-thirsty, perhaps, but not yet cannibals,
Come now, let us reason together,
Says the Lord
Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man,
and drink his blood,
you have no life; and
Will you also go away?

I could not move.
Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth
My wounds stink and are corrupt for my foolishness
And I set my face toward the ground, and I became dumb.

I drank the turret's cool air
Spreading playfully his hair.
And his hand, so serene,
Cut my throat. Drained
Of senses, I dropped unaware.
How delicate in love you make me feel.

1 comment:

Fr Ken Bartsch, OFM Conv said...

Most of this poem is taken from various traditional sources, including the last section -- from the writing of St John of the Cross.