Raiders of the Lost Ark

What is this fire entered

back into the world —

the violence of beginnings

when the hero’s longing cannot be

told from the villain’s, as neither

comprehend how real

the end is —

to be the first one

there in the scene of history

hand on the stone —

believing that the next thing

you do will give shape

to the lives of millions unborn

but god is different —

this one at least

is voiceless, less than

in that he is unspeakably

greater than the one found

in Genesis — entirely

without prophet

or interest of conversing

with man — not noticing him

there — some number

of footsoldiers like beads

pierced on a string

of lightning —

or is it that we are

objects of derision

to be frightened before

he impales our bodies

with light, our faces

melted by the laughing fire

of the holy spirit finally

free of its great

mistake.