Both are from section IV of Lightgnawn (Wild Goat Press, 2018).
24.
For John Woolman
Dark liturgies
of tranquilicide reign
as red the Christspawned Mother
deepens the flow of absence
until One enters
Truth-baptised
to tell
as cloven history, aswarm with clay,
greyens Godward
and griefsnakes rattle in mercy.
25.
Time’s self out-realed
in feasts of ashen
where beyondstayed
gleams
wriggle in cross-silk
skin, and motions of Truth
lust-silent, purge the deathdrips
of state
and stains usurp
the robe’s killing floor.
Remnants sound a new liturgy.
Lightdead hollows
of abeyant lives
mired in cruelty
Christ-squall dawns.
Gnawn light parts
gaping darkflesh still
lamb-hearted
true Presence
mindthorn dissolved
made new –
Beyond:
Christ conducts
the eyesilence of Light
and bodies
are Lambpsalms
formed of incense