poems on John 3. 14-21

snakeroot

Harvey S. Mozolak

the cure

heaven taking the dose

of the poison itself

snake hunting

God went

pruning from a dry tree

a forked stick

like a tongue of flame

fired in the fangs

of a Friday sun

the darkening world

still bright

in the dimming eyes

of the lifted up

from his drained

dead bitten body

the medicine

meeting at night

Harvey S. Mozolak

not like carrying a placard

some large sign

in the screaming coliseum crowd

announcing he was present

to cheer the combat or the victor

rather he moved unseen

parting the folds

that held the drapes of darkness

deep shadows dimming all

between the buildings at night

hurrying like one

who changes the scenes

in a play

centering a well

with realistic rope

setting a stage table

with a cup of cold water

altering the placement of a propped tree

just before the characters enter

the rabbi came in shortly after he arrived

they spoke at length

of the dark entrance

into the world from the womb

and quicken birth

from God on high

the Lord standing

beside one of the timber supports

for the roof of the house concludes

“some things above

“are not seen well below”

his hand rubs the wood

a carpenter checking its grain

dryness and strength

reaching upward

in a sudden smooth motion

into the yoke at the top of the post

his hands lower grip and hold

an until now hidden small field snake

frightened awake coiling

gently he places the creature in the soil

at the edge of the garden

“it was where Moses placed it

“when he lifted up the seraph

“in the wandering places

“while traveling here to where we are

“where the Son of Man will also go up

“though more rudely and roughly lashed

“nail-bound to writhe

“the evil from all beyond the garden”

Nicodemus’ face leans forward

into the lamp’s light

his hands placed on the table

where a loaf of bread cools

near a sweating jug of wine

Jesus lifts Nicodemus’ hands

as they are held in open prayer

“believe in the light that is true

“where the whole world hangs

“in the giving”

Nicodemus rises

unsure whose is the exit