Pyre

They gathered at the funeral
bringing belongings
memories and pictures
of saints and sayings

as they watched the body burn
they heard some laughing
what was the reflection
of the god absent?

descending from heaven
or at the center of flame
none could see
none dare look
what was plain as day

so pushing through
all the daily bread
swords, thorns, and reasons for being saved
the isolation
of surfacing in the thunder storm
happy, happy, happy
we all are
the day of hot displeasure grows
popping veins
who knows
cut heads clucking
bodies running
denial in eating, plucking
blind
toothless
sinless-ugly-Father
bares the lusts he created
in the rainbowlike pyre.