From Feast upon the Word (http://feastupontheword.org). Copyright, Feast upon the Word.
given Place to be made Holy
my via sacra (sacred way):
what ties my journey to this day,
and day to God, hence, God to me--
a wager that lets judgment be
to have my wages weighed out fair,
I must appear to my Judge there,
before His seat, His western throne,
to reap the death that I have sown
hence, death lurks where the sun retreats,
a veil to smother my conceits,
a passing, grave, a going-down:
primordial sea in which to drown
and yet a prayer ascends before,
to clothe (to cover)--I adore
and praise in regal robes stained white
with blood (I shed) before His sight
indeed, the way I travel seems
caressed by glory (weight) that streams
along its length--and whence it flies?
the light of corpus christi: eyes
seven lamps make glow my path,
and seven fires burn forth the wrath
of yonder Judge; these burn my mouth
with all the heat of deserts south
but growing too of golden roots
are seven white (like burning) fruits;
these too my mouth approach, but graced
my tongue is now for joy I taste
dessert is left for meal right,
to fill my pilgrim's belly; might
such dainties be my constant fest
when find I me on journey's test
but this abundance calls to path
a host (or two) who, filled with wrath,
would plunder of me wine and bread,
and leave me broken, scattered, dead
yet another host steps also forth
to take me up (too, from the north),
who feeds me full and turns me west,
and bids me change, for pilgrim, guest
and as I travel final miles,
I give my back to smiting trials,
and turn from what I place (with pain)
behind, I shall not entertain
but placed, it stands in pillared strength:
a world unseen in width and length
that somehow now to summon me
appeals: it bears some thing to see
behind me now a trumpet sounds;
a voice like rushing water founds
my fear that there, upon a beast,
my Judge is flying from the East
atop these verses (twelve they count)
the death I earn springs as a fount;
so journey ends, as into tomb
I fall as seed, to make it womb
- The scripture that inspired this poem: Ex 26:33-35.
- Other scriptures engaged in this poem: Ex 25:17, 1 Kings 7:25, Rev 8:3, Lev 16:13, Lev 16:9, Zech 4:10, Isa 6:7, 1 Ne 8:11-12, Luke 10:30, Luke 10:33, Jer 4:6, Isa 50:6, Gen 19:17, Gen 19:26, Rev 1:10, Rev 1:15, Rev 19:11, Rom 6:3, 1 Cor 15:38.
