Sweet Jesus Christ

words worn to threads by men
who never knew his smell his taste
the touch of his hands the look
in his eyes the power of his arms
arms strong from aching
day in day out work

Oh Jesus wept

so he did
for me for stupid Peter
poor old Judas every
godforsaken one of us

Holy Mother

the press of his chest
the weight of him
his whipchord hardness
braced against my

God

I can’t believe
he’s gone for good