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
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 *
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
