'a cross or splinter'

'a cross or splinter' timothy r gates, 3/29/2010

A cross

splintered by

cult spectators,

no need to carry your own

hung

Hasidic phylacteries

strung

wedded between prayer ropes

worry beads –

pace, back and forth

rock, back and forth

claims exclaimed, back and forth

then, in

silence

vertical intrusion

horizontal allusion

'X' marks the spot.

Do i want to remove the

speck from my hand

Do i want to remove the

beam from my seeing

Do i want to close my eyes

so I might see

Am I an iconoclast

Am I an iconodule

Am I antiquated –

get in line

pay your tithe

listen for the, 'heal,' say, 'baby,' refrain

no need for a cross

or a splinter

just a little cult spectatorship

– what a lark!