Sunday, February 8, 2015

The boat, the man, the sign


The boat was there
   then gone
the man was there
   then gone 

They sailed across the sea
   to find the bread
   again 

the bread in the desert
the bread on the hillside
take, eat the bread 

but more than bread
   they wanted a sign
a billboard, preferably,
  large and garish,
   obvious
a neon light
   large and flashing 

so that they would know
know without looking
   foolish
and others would know
know without feeling
   foolish 

a sign, a sign
wall we ask is
a sign
all we ever ask is
a sign
the substitute
for faith 

The sign stood in front
   of them
the obvious sensed
   but unseen 

Painting: Christ preaching on the Sea of Galilee by Jan Brueghel the Elder (1568-1625).

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