When Jesus was a carpenter,
he was the finest in Nazareth,
put his soul into his work,
gave you your money's worth,
built things to last.
When Jesus was a contractor,
he built items to spec,
made wonderful
- tables
- chairs
- cupboards
- shelves
- caskets
- crosses
When a Roman came into the shop,
Jesus asked no questions,
save "What wood? What finish? How high?"
He took their silver gladly.
When Jesus was a preacherman,
he traveled far and wide,
made sermons up on mountain tops,
turned one fish into many fish,
made water into wine,
was a big hit at parties.
But a craftsman's fingers
never forget their craft.
Did Jesus run an appreciative hand
over the taxman's table before he flipped it,
acknowledge the smoothness of its grain,
recognize it as his own work?
Did the Lord watch crucifixions,
and take pride in how well his crosses
bore the weight of agony,
showed no signs of softening
even as they soaked up all those tears,
all that blood and piss?
When Jesus was a criminal,
I'll bet he allowed himself
a moment of ironic reflection
as they tied him to the whipping post
that Joseph taught him to carve,
his cracked lips splitting in a painful smile.
He must've thought back on the pride he'd taken
in making that perfectly-planed beam,
even as they fixed that pride in the soil,
chalk-white from powdered skulls,
the stake standing tall and straight
as the carpenter who, smiling,
had washed the sawdust off his hands
while surveying his pristine creation.
Even as they nailed him to the crossbeam of his skill,
he could feel its perfect balance,
like poetry, like justice,
like Ouroboros gagged on its own tail.
Jesus was a crossmaker;
aren't we all?
Author notes
This poem takes it's title from Judee Sill's wonderful song "Jesus Was a Cross Maker." I take her phrase in a different direction, but I highly recommend seeking out Sill's work, as she was both a fine poet and a terrific singer.
Thoughts welcome.
Comments
1 - 5 of 5
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a book says
created in the image but made out of clay
who's clay?
are the seven deadly sins made out of clay then
mary ought to be made of wood
another if not the same book(s) speaks of the spring of life not about trees
so why didn't jesus made pottery anyways
a pot holds wine better than a tree
it can even become an aquarium... a fish copier
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this is the best poem I have read in a very long time.
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This almost has a violent femmes tone to it, with their "Jesus walking on the water"...I liked this, and it is a good lesson taught in it!
Jeremy
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Interesting reflections on duality, the full circle of things. The pride thing kind of stops me though. Lots of descriptive imagery in this.
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wrong
"Jesus was a Capricorn, he ate organic food. He believed in love and peace, and never wore no shoes." Kris Kristofferson 1972.
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