Monday, February 16, 2015


Lent 1 
Mark 1. 9-15 

in, by, with and on 
Harvey S. Mozolak

without human contact 
for forty days 
a space and time 
the Spirit drove 
in silence 
but not in solitude 
Satan dangled 
what flesh and blood 
must need and have and do 
with beasts whose nature 
has grown wild 
beyond their day of naming 
only angels wait at the edge 
of emptiness 
to fill with the glory 
of obedience 
the space and time of loss 
we without such sacred contact 
hear the call with repentance 
to await his return 
from the desert waste 
become the kingdom 
God's pleasure and love 
teased by our arrest 
to come near 
where angels wait 
with wild beasts 
tempted by Satan 
and torn apart 
by the descending Spirit's sending 
to a greater trial 
among the stripped and arid trees 
of a wilder forest 



Lent 1
Mark 1. 9-15

enclosure
Harvey S. Mozolak

the beasts are assumed
snakes and scorpions
hyena-types
dripping toxin sap 
twitching whiskers taunt
tails tucked 
claws and paws bloody
ripping

) strange parentheses (

carcassing vultures
winged beasts beyond human reach

and

and the heavenlies
teethed with lightning
offering what was once
manna 

with and waiting on

he returns to the world 
(also full of wild beasts)

alone

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