My arms outstretched homed holocaust of bull
Slurped water blood spewed out Baal’s prophets’ throats
I prayed sky scorching black rained cisterns full
Raced Ahab Jezebel with murder bloats

To Negev fled beneath broom prayed to perish
By angel fed sent forty days and nights
Where after earth wind fire spoke small still whisper
Face covered firecloud Name eternal lights

Night Jesus radiant quit us for the valley
Last walk last words with lawyers priests and people
Last cup soul body slid down Hades’ alley
To furious LORD impaled on Devil’s steeple

From touch blaze murk storm trump and voice dead rifts me
To Zion’s ecstasy God’s Abel lifts me

MARK EDMUND HUTCHESON

Previously published in ICARUS (Dublin: Trinity College Dublin, Vol. 44, No. 2, April 1994), and in HOREB REGAINED (Stillorgan, Co Dublin: St John of God Hospital, March 1993)