flower carol: rose

Harvey S. Mozolak

“lo how a rose”

is wilting

withering in the dry

sun blistering sky

life’s petals falling

blooming blood

this carol cast to die

flower carol: lily

Harvey S. Mozolak

bound in lifeless layers

pungent drying skin

sheathed and chambered

a bulb buried

among the stones of clay

lo how he arose

limp lipped lily 

to the Father’s face

sun embraced brightness

as the trumpet’s ribs 

brace and blossom

their gold stalked stamens 

note with filament and flower

the shout of song

“beyond all sadness”

Friday walk

Harvey S. Mozolak

dim and dark

followed by the sound 

of a single lark

I saw a man

take the form of a tree

then closer came

I could see it was not

he was the form of me

leafless shorn

sleeved by blood

and shod in iron nails

a lifeless plant 

unrooted both of earth

and light-branched heaven

kingdom change

Harvey S. Mozolak

thrice like thunder

bolted to the earth

the pale posting

of the hill

was his 

among evil’s claim of the land

forcefully fenced

by sharp-stemmed suffering 

spikes and spear

there his kingdom 

recaptures all in holiness

loosened life

left to descend among

funeral cloths and prayers 

whose only hope

is waiting 

faith as yet not folded

on the stone

among the first up

Harvey S. Mozolak

butter yellow cups 

on fluted saucers

the sun-yellowed

daff photo stills

are ready for spring

framing by the wood

of greening trees 

and flower ringed bushes