By Ishmael von Heidrick-Barnes
TAKEN
Lashing out
of imperial robes
at Saint Paul’s pillar
where the founder of Christianity
was whipped by its father
Sun
striking me
with its scorpion tail
One soft drink
from heatstroke and Parousia
when, “A fisher of men,”
limped toward me
rattling small change in a paper cup
Maybe it was shade
erupting from “The Tree Of Idleness,”
that made me forget my thirst
or a splinter of cross
nailed into me at birth
Maybe it was the marble column
worn into a phallus
by hands of followers
that opened my palm
and offered up the cup
taken from me
Taken again
*Parousia: A word Saint Paul used referring to the second coming of Christ.