an odd phrase fell into his eyes

                                                   from somewhere

exactly where he couldnt say 

nor could he run through his memory backwards to find from where it came

those kind of wheres

were typically lost

trickled away

feeding  the roots and capillaries buried deep in his sentient being

                                                      

itd be like trying to recall the slant  the attitudes or postures his shadow cast at any

shy  given moment

“he flies on two nails”

                                     he also couldnt say if he had ever heard a more apt description

of Christ nailed on the Cross

Christ seemed to him a long  lean  albatross

a man grimacing beneath a knot of thorns 

a crown horribly yanked down on his head over the tops of his ears                                                                                                                                  

dark runlets of blood in his face  on his shoulders and chest

Crucified  singlehandedly He kept him from Church

as a boy he looked around himself   and took in all the worshippers seated in the blonde

wood pews

it was  as it was  during a wake

the deceased at the head of the room

and once those who visited   briefly took to their knees to affirm the prostrate presence

once they had acknowledged the dead

then everyone seemed unsaddled of whatever it was that had brought them 

                                                                                                                  and neer again

did they have to pay attention or lay another eye on that still distant form

he recognised  it was the same at Church

everyone busy and oblivious under His vacant stare

it seemed to him only he and the very youngest children worried themselves with

His tortured posture  grievous face

 

His leering

they made uncomfortable looks and silent exchanges at one another

over the strict backs of the pews or up and down their rows

while their parents la di da la di daed  and chittered

until falling silent as the ceremony began

the priest and devotees flowing up the center aisle  commanding the room  its Reverence

ordained

they seemed consumed by their very part in the Drama

appeared myopic 

                          

and very very small

but even they did not fix their eyes to the tilted leering Christ at their head

solemnly  they committed their functions as parents silently quieted small fidgeting feet

and legs   and threatened

the entire room he imagined   felt threatened

as if the sacred pallor of the Church like yellow smoke wont to grow thicker and darker

and suffocate Its disciples and casual adherents

although if the fidgeting feet and legs were given their heads and way they would have risen
and fled the Church  and the Terror mounted above the altar

like some horrible taxidermy

like the biggest fish ever taken from the lake beyond the few barroom windows and talk

and bragging

a scroll fixed with two nails beneath its belly
like the scroll fixed above His head     INRI *

boasting

              Beat that

                                                                                                                     Thursday,  13  11. 14

 1439,  Twosday,  18  11. 14

* Latin: IESVS·NAZARENVS·REX·IVDÆORVM  Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews