This poem originally appeared a long long time ago in a journal called The Homestead Review. Enjoy!
-------------------------------
Coin
don’t look at me
as if you have a complaint,
some false story about lost youth
when you shimmered on the flank
of a sparkling dragon.
you’re a hard blind eye
stealing the warmth of my palm,
you and your sorcerous stare:
its lying runes,
its bloodless head,
its calamitous raptor.
it’s not important that you see us,
but crucial that we see you--
that was the bargain you made,
immortality to become the prophet
of violent kings.
that’s why jesus gave you to caesar.
that’s why the hungry weep:
because they are the prisoners
of a weepless thing.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
"it’s not important that you see us,
ReplyDeletebut crucial that we see you--
that was the bargain you made,
immortality to become the prophet
of violent kings."
Wow Chris... Okay that's not very eloquent LOL. I hope you'll forgive my lack of articulation and just know that I found this to be very powerful. It says so much of what's beyond the image, almost graven image and how a god might wish to be worship more than being of service to others and of course this translates to anyone with an ego too large for his coin--taking such care to be shiny in the face of dull humanity.