What the Gift of Life Begins, the Gift of Grace Completes

Breathe in, o soul--
by Father, Son and Holy Ghost--
the breath of life/
the breath of God
(as of a rushing mighty wind)
deep into thy body nostril.

And as that breath blows where it list,
hear, o soul, the sound thereof--
a still small voice:
Except a man be born again,
he cannot see the kingdom of God.

But He Himself Shall Be Saved; yet so as by Fire

Flammable, straw-man out of Egypt, dredged Sin is crouching, The Kiln-Master to burn your soul-brick on Christ’s

shapeable— gathered clay-man from Jordan’s banks: death is waiting. is standing near or bake built foundation.

In Defense of Plagiarism

What is a thought but old breath held,
the written word but old breath gelled?
The oak grasps not at royalties
on new-breathed words writ on its leaves--
yet leaf we words with borrowed air
we'd ax the roots to grasp our share.

And, Behold, There Was a Great Earthquake: for the Angel of the Lord Descended from Heaven

Be ye not afraid, the angel said,
sword-tongue in cheek--
for why not tremble at the double edge?

The sword may doubly dub
or drub;
lift up your head
or lift it off.

So be ye Roman guard or woman weeping,
virgin mother, shepherd keeping,
bend your neck beneath the blade
and be ye not afraid.

Maundy

Paint Thy blood upon my doorjamb;
     wash Thy water o'er my feet.
Passover lamb--Thou Paschal lamb--
     pray I love as Thou love'st me.

Therefore the Lord Himself Shall Give You a Sign

On sylvan hills our gilded age

dies out in favor of the 1950s:

two-tone trees all white and

black as though the season caught

the moder-spirit-by-thine-advent-here—

Our Lord delivered on suburban lawn,

the Word became plastic and

made his dwelling among us.

But come, o come, Emmanuel—

to stable or suburban lawn, or

to the tune of trumpets blaring

through the rolled-back clouds.

Come, o come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive sylvan hills,
suburban lawn, and Israel.

Birds After Rain

The air smelled musty,
the birds went silent and
the sons of men made merry
while the waters rose upon the earth.

Then the rains did cease.
The flood receded. The sons of
Noah left their nest and
ate and drank and sang and chirped:
"For tomorrow we die,
to-morrow, and to-morrow,
and to-morrow."

Behold, Thy King Cometh Unto Thee: Lowly and Riding Upon an Ass

Hosanna, Christ!
that self-same ass,
triumphant, beaten,
bearing burden,
riding over pitfall paved 
by palm-branch blanket.