Words of summons

Long since blown

Into dust, beyond memory

What remains

Sting of dirt in eyes

Clotted on wriggling tongue

Under bent cedar

Low branches hang

Silent witness

To birth spasms

Bristling beast

Burning hot breath

Odor of violence

Stammering wrath

Ceremony of terrible emergence

Known without lesson

(Knelt to pray)

Liberated in worship

Devout in practice

Delivering the sermon

To a subservient

Congregation of one

Submission, all must bend

Facade is broken