Copernicus Poternicus

People: Copernicus Poternicus, how come you deserted us? We thought you would return with us from the megalopolis. Copernicus: I could have predicted this confusion by contradicting your conclusion, but you inflicted a contusion on my delicate constitution. Ay, ay, ay! My cardiac! My tympanum! My scholastic, core curriculum! My endoplasmic (poor) reticulum! And […]

Autumn’s Oracle

It flits like wind: the many plated fall that haunts the hollow echoes of the trees. It sits in gloom, the ever-darkened hall of piney bowers bending in the breeze. – And far away, approaching on the air, the mountain smoke-streams: hard, and sharp as spite. Severest winter— soon to come and tear aside the […]

Go Away

stop holding out your hand you just embarrass both of us i don’t want to know i care go talk to someone else i’m going to my room now go away – stop coming in my room! the creaking floor-boards make me sad you’re gonna hurt yourself please leave my room. go away – stop […]

The Thunder of Reform

We see our fathers standing strong, the granite pillars of the church, who drove the nails into the door, who boldly drew the word and preached like thunder from a stormy sky. – We look around and mourn our loss— for “godly men have ceased to be,” and so we venerate the past and make […]

Starved Christianity

We gather in the name of Christ to eat, but leave the main course in the kitchen fridge. A little sip of truth is all we need, and then the fun—a table of desserts with the coolest toppings—imitation sin, all the flavor sans the toxins, so the label said. We laugh and eat and say […]

Waiting in the Dark

Who can know the purpose of the King, or probe His mind to hear His hidden ways? Who can tell the reason for their days, the sighs or joys their earthly song will sing? They come in anguished sorrow oft to ring their pleas and prayers before the throne and gaze steadfastly waiting, ready for […]

When God Says No

When I say no, You say yes— gently, firmly. The trees bend to Your wind. And inevitably, my willfulness will bow like so. The joys I’ve missed— Your priceless name, and kind, kind heart, the strongest arms and purest charms, your matchless art— are mine to claim. Who can resist? Though wishes press, […]

A Severe Delight

It rushes down the mountain: a cataract of sound a spray of mist and shade-light a roaring, silence round. – I pick my steps on slick-stones, a cat afraid of glass, to plunge my head beneath it and feel it—surging past – I feel the flecking wet sparks I step onto the ledge, but find […]

If Only…

If men could walk on water, they’d fool around all day, hang by the village fountain do tricks while people pay. – If we could snap our fingers make all injustice right– our legs would turn to ramen for we’d never learn to fight. – If rulers knew, unquestioned the truth on every hand, they’d […]

Gossip

Once I saw a picture of a man down, his blood pooling on the street while the swarming EMTs took forks and knives to him instead of gauze, butchering a life they could have saved— Oh God, forgive me . . . it was a mirror.