Crossing Crosses
Warm sinshine brushes cross a cheek
leaves crunch and crackle – underfoot. Trees
surround and protect,
leaves crunch and crackle – underfoot. Trees
surround and protect,
Chilled processed air is stagnant,
seas of gray tombstone chairs stare –
awaiting a sermon,
seas of gray tombstone chairs stare –
awaiting a sermon,
The clearing ahead, bullfrogs and crickets
practice their choir. Old wooden benches
lined face forward,
practice their choir. Old wooden benches
lined face forward,
Specked dull blue carpet leads
to the stage, a low rise platform
void of color.
to the stage, a low rise platform
void of color.
A small wooden fence to mark the end
of the hilltop, rocks and rushing water --
below. To the right, a cross-
of the hilltop, rocks and rushing water --
below. To the right, a cross-
The baptismal lays a drowning pool of insects
the back wall towering over, the overseer of the tombstones.
no adornments, save a cross,
the back wall towering over, the overseer of the tombstones.
no adornments, save a cross,
Its splintering logs held together by rope and nail
no robe, no crown, no dignity
just wood – a symbol
no robe, no crown, no dignity
just wood – a symbol
With smooth dark stain finish
held tight by screws and steel
purple rich robe flowing
held tight by screws and steel
purple rich robe flowing
The hilltop cross and mountain top high-
Faith. The manufactured cross hung low
on the wall of a church-
a Formality—
Faith. The manufactured cross hung low
on the wall of a church-
a Formality—
This poem has beautiful imagery. I truly feel like I've entered the world the poem is describing. I also enjoyed the word play of "stare" in the second stanza.
ReplyDeleteI love the image of a cross at the top of the mountain. This mental pictures reminds me of a place I have been in my own life and I love how poems can offer that connection from reader to poet.
ReplyDeleteMentioning processed air makes me think of industrialized corporate religion, which is a lot of people seem to practice .
ReplyDeleteYes, this poem is an excellent statement speaking out against corporate religion (whether you meant it to or not); it seems to yearn to take things to a simpler place (the forest).
ReplyDeleteI was really transported by the vivid scenes you painted in this poem. I felt through the details of description you give, that you were conveying something more complex than just the pictures themselves. I think the depth of the questions or statements that come out here are just as intricate as the images provided. Quite enigmatic.
ReplyDelete