He writes in the dust

So what does he write

in the dust, what words

as he listens to the question,

the trap

what does he write

in this story, itself written

in the dust

she was caught, they say

in the act, they say,

of adultery, they say

she should die, they say

stoning, they say

He writes in the dust

The executioner, he says

must be sinless, he says

the one who stones, he says

must be blameless, he says

only the sinless, he says

can execute judgment, he says

He writes in the dust

The first stone drops, thud

then the second drops, thud

the third, thud

thud thud thud thud

He writes in the dust

The stones drop, again

as he writes, again

in the dust

thud thud thud thus

Go, he says

sin no more, he says

only the sinless, the blameless

can execute, he says

only the sinless, the blameless

can forgive