The Second Touch Pericope

I studied both English Literature & Religious Studies at university: rarely do I combine both disciplines when I write poetry… ‘Pericope’ is a theological term for a small portion of a sacred text...

There is no simile assigned

in editing this story line.

But mark my word, no accident,

those incidents of one and two

are paralleled theology.

Some know the gospeller’s account,

at midpoint of their journey, road,

when he enquires of followers,

what others say of who he is.

The compliments turn Jewish lore,

Elijah, Prophet, Baptist John,

but he rejoinders to them all -

but what of you, but what’s your view,

and who do you say that I am?

You are the Christ is Peter’s call,

until he’s told the consequence,

unleashing the Satanic name

for knowing rôle, but not the cost.

His insight was but partial too.

So thus the act prepared before,

pericope, first drama seen -

a blind man brought for eyes restored.

When he is touched, his focus poor,

for yes, he sees, but men as trees,

the trunk of folk, but legs branch air

as if the image upside down,

for righted sight, needs second touch

metamorphopsia addressed.

That is the prophet’s mission here,

to question where disciples are,

as turning the world upside down,

a cause as costly as his own,

where man and tree are scene, as one,

where man and tree now seen as won.