Vision 5

the old man sits seiza

within the chamber

stone walled

dry stones

set one upon the other around him

like a stupa

round and round

skin like dry parchment

thin as the starving buddha

waiting without eating

for enlightenment

thin white whiskers upon his chin

and upper lip

robed in silk

of a color that was once

a bright saffron yellow

does he still breathe?

yes.

Is he a prisoner?

no.

Does he wait for the question

to which there is no answer?

perhaps.

is there light?

perhaps, for those who have eyes to see.

are there words?

perhaps, for those who have ears to hear.

There is a sound

like water dripping on wet stone

(or is it blood?)

somewhere nearby

he counts the drops

one

by

one

his beating heart

and when he has counted enough?

look, his eyes open

look, his mouth opens

look, his tongue moves

does he speak?

his ribs like slats

his arms like sticks

his legs like poles

his belly like an empty basket

what is it?

what does he see

in his sealed chamber

whose infinite walls contain
neither window

nor door.

who does he see?

bright as a star before him.

Pharaoh Neco

What is he up to?
This little king of judah.
Great grandson of hezekiah.
Is he too afflicted with the madness
of his great grandfather?

will he, like his great grandfather
bring ruin upon his people?

Word has come from judah
that this little king is restoring the temple
that his priest has found a book
that the king intends to restore
the sacrifices
that blood should again flow
upon the stones
upon the altars
and the black smoke rise again
to stain the sky

we cannot have this

The man moses took the darkness with him
they who volunteered
took the darkness into the desert
took the darkness to that mountain
tricked the darkness into the ark
lied to and fed the darkness
until solomon learned the secret
until solomon wrought the key
until solomon bound the darkness
within the inner within
behind the veil
the deceiver deceived
and there we hoped it would remain
forgotten
to no more trouble
the world of men.

but

it seems to those
whose minds are weak
he can still speak
out of his darkness.

I shall call a council
we must find
a solution to this problem
solomon was wise
but not wise enough
we must be wiser
for this god of plagues
troubles us still
and should somehow
they free it

No, that does not bear thinking on.

Let us consult with the scribes
of the city of stone
keepers of the books of solomon
keepers of the keys
within the treasury of wisdom
there must an answer be found

And then
we shall decide what to do
about this foolish king
of judah.

whom god would destroy

Whom god would destroy he first makes mad

He came to me in my dreams
and this he said -
I will make you king over all
you shall be king hereafter
I shall give you dominion
over all the peoples of the world
hear my voice.
You shall be greater than pharaoh
greater than nebuchadnezzar
greater that the Assyrians
the Egyptians
You shall be greatest
none shall be able to stand
before you -

within the ruined temple
upon the mount
there I dwell
if you will but purify it
sanctify it
restore it.

Drive from your kingdom the priests
of the other gods
slay them
burn their bones
and worship me.

Only me.

Send to me your priest
that I may speak with him
I shall give to him my book
and teach him how
my temple shall be
and how this
the city of my temple shall be.
I shall teach him
and he shall teach you.

And now, as I am dying,
shot through with arrows
abandoned on the field of battle by my god,
for whom I did everything.
I see, at last, clearly,
through the veil he cast over my mind
the dark glass he placed before my eyes
his true nature.
and I ask myself why,

why, if he was truly the god of my people
why, if he truly had the powers he claimed
why, if he truly was who he said he was
why then, did he need me?

I was weak, and he was weak,
but I fed him and he grew strong.
He fed upon me
and he feeds upon my people.
I have brought destruction upon my people
all the blood we gave him
will not be enough
for he is still bound to the temple
I know not how
nor why.

Which of the two priesthoods
were the keepers of the truth?
Which of the two priesthoods
is the keeper of the keys
to the chains that bind him
I fear now
I fear
that I have given power
to the followers of the dark

Oh Sophia
why have you come to me now?

Take me back to my city
That I may undo that which I have done.
Before I die

But I fear
it is too late.

sonnet 13

My words flow from his mouth like bitter gall,
who writes with wormwood ink upon the page.
Enscribes epistles great, in greatness small,
unholy fool, deceived, to fools a sage.
Fools, fearing laws they do not understand,
will seek my freedom, I, the lord of hate.
Their lives abandon, seeking in my hands
a life eternal, in my dark estate.
Their lips, uncircumcised, shall speak my name
believing it to be the name of god.
Thus they shall put to death those without blame,
who seek to sort the even from the odd.
I win the battle, best by never trying
the wits of those, who won't believe I'm lying.