judas’ kiss

by doreen peri

Posted to Utterances on 2003-05-24 10:38:00

no judas will kiss my cheek
hang me on a cross and
let the blood be smeared
but if we cannot hear
each other’s cry
then we will die
without resurrection
reject shame, red spread
not rising from the dead
inside a tomb

let us not wound
that way gray sky day
i will not play into a ploy
i do not enjoy being hung up
on to listen to the dial
tones asking forgiveness
so do not beg to wonder
whether you will
rise from the dead

instead worship
your very breath

blood was let and it will be let
again, in the namesake of self
there cannot be wealth
or acceptance, repentance
or virtue if you hide
from yourself
in the name
of sleep
and so i weep
and so i weep
and bid you well

you can tell
your perspective
you cannot tell mine
blind is the man
who cannot see
through another’s
eyes