April 26, 2020

Joanna the Baptist

I draw the line at bodies. Many things
will suffer neglect at my hands, appearances
mostly, and my own appearance in the main.
But if I have neglected a body in my care,
I have broken a holy bond, violated a sacred
vow, rent a hole in the wholecloth of my
very person. I am beside myself – Who is that?

Who does that? Not me. I am nearing the
time for sackcloth and ashes, for weeping
and gnashing of teeth. I am in need – need
of redemption, need of forgiveness, need of
a pencil or a sharp stick. I draw the line at
bodies. I draw a circle around the bodies
in my care, and say to those outside:

This far shalt thou come, and no further.

So if I, in this sanctuary, this circle of care,
if I, within this forcefield generated by –
and generating – the force of love, desecrate
a body by carelessness or callousness, I
desecrate the holy temple itself, Creation.
I am out of sorts and need to sort this out.
Put the house back in order. Mend. Heal.

Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.