III

The body is a manifestation of the soul,
the source of pain and of life,
the immortalizing body of the Man,
flesh that is an example before our eyes,
the body of God, the eternal Gospel:
the paint-brush shows us the miracle of
the Man who died to save us
from the tragic death of mankind;
it presents before our eyes a humanity
that is eternal. Eyes that are also of flesh,
of blood and of pain, and of life!
This is the God we can see; this is the Man;
this is the God on whose body our eyes
can rest, the hands of the spirit.
There is no choice but to accept your fate
as an essential part of the Story which love
elaborates; it is as though our minds
were formed in the forge of your inner being,
and we see the universe through your eyes.

The ground where I stand is shaking and my           Acts 4:31.
lungs are filled with your divine breath,
so that now I can describe your blessedness
sincerely and openly, without pretense.
My tongue is on fire, and like a burning flame,
may it sing with the sound of angel wings
the lesson which your body teaches us
like a living book. Let me hungrily           Ezekiel 3
devour this manuscript, until the sweet fluid
from your side oozes like honey
out of my mouth. From within me           John 7:38.
flow rivers of living water, these poems
of mine, and may they keep on flowing
as long as they live, and may that be forever!
I have neither silver nor gold,           Acts 3:6.
but I give you what I have, brothers;
I offer the totality of my entire effort
for your benefit, keeping back nothing           Acts 5:1-6.
for myself, for God is not deceived.