LEXICON FOR GETHSEMANE

The words express an oil of evidence,
A lucid balm of keen obedience
Drawn from soil, seed, roots, leaves, hard paper truths,
Toil of tender blooms, for robed betrothal.

Tears, perfume glisten on exquisite feet
Of Christ made verb in brutal holiness.
The hour we shrink, he says, “Endure and sing.
Slip through the definitions this pain wrings.”

(Provo, Utah, 1993)