Two for Ms Armantrout

After listening to a Poemtalk that featured Rae Armantrout’s The Way, I was moved to write the first poem in a rather intellectual response to her wonder poem, then, pretty much as these things happen, the second poem came to me while making coffee and toast and taking a shower. I hope she isn’t horrified, if she ever reads these.

 

Do You Have the Jesus-bug Inside?

 

Jesus is the Way

Jesus is away

“Away with Him!”

Jesus Aweigh

Poor dead Jesus

slips over the rail

But Jesus walks

and the tiny

Jesus-bug

spreads Jesus wings

 

And flies into

the heavens

no pew cards

no cue cards

no trees

where Jesus-bugs

sit and sing

no Jesus-bugs

there.

 

 

Jerusalem Butter

 

Went down to Jerusalemtown

to get some butter

Mary and Joseph

had taken it all

down to Egyptland

‘cause Pharaoh’s acoming

looking for firstborndead.

 

They say

Jesus is coming

coming real soon

with butter, bread loaves,

fishes, too.

 

I’m sitting here

Jerusalemtown

waiting for Jesus

and a breadloaf

perfectly brown,

butter, too.