division’s sum

Harvey S. Mozolak

three agains two

and

two against three

water swells

from the well 

of Names with the Name

far beyond the heavens

and rains the reign of God

baptism unites

the flood pools

drowns the stain

and spill of soil

and floats to dry land

a faith-shod people

led by pillars of clouds

and fire

and a sandaled righteous rabbi

at home praying 

between the columns

of the Temple

and walking

teaching and touching

limping beggars

the blind and diseased

beside the stoney paths

amid beaten lives

at village funerals

and among the demonized

his baptism joins

him to us

except

this

his he said

much after 

Jordan with John

I have a baptism

with which to be baptized

and what stress 

I am under

until it is completed

peace pulled beneath

in undertow

division’s draining 

whirlpool

not of water but of drought

kindling dry dead branches

to cross the hot hewn trunk

boiling blood

evaporating breath

in the noon sun 

fueled by burning 

in the raging tongues of hate

sown deep within the family

weathered by warnings

from the Presence

appearance

clouded by the present time

The Three for all

free

Lectionary 20

Luke 12. 49-56