Upon This Rock

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We laughed in the temple 
            and found favor where 
the Lord lashed with lightening and laughed too 

                        when he saw the size of salvation. 

Adam between the consecrated trees 
            tied his hammock for secure slumber 
            and fell not with the night 
            and with the morning rose not 
but slept in the sun 

As tangled fishermen slept too, in a garden 
            tumbled in sleep 
            secure in the infinite grass 
and dreamt of glory which flashed by them in the night
then shattered like a crowd of guilty waifs found 
            apple-stealing 
when Old Man Death raged.

Oh Jesus loves this careless freckled world 
            that stretches aimlessly where 

lilies left and fig blossoms blown 
            (eye hath not seen) 
blackbird whistle and bobwhite song 
            (nor ear heard) 
and hours and days that no man knoweth 
            flutter 
            fall 
                                    in the forest 
                                                like 
                                                            wastrel leaves. 

With all of that 
                        Jesus had to trust 
                                                a calculated concern 
(dreamless with the pungent balm of love 
frugal with the poisoned sacrament of sop) 
                                                            to tie Him on a tree.