21 Psaltery & Lyre: Cheryl L. Bruno, “Severed Savior”

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Severed Savior

whenever that
severe
outcast-of-israel
valley-of-the-shadow  fear
adder-strikes

i pour my poisoned blood
out into  the world
lashing
out and thrashing out my
pains

veins fired with
heat
until the
jesus-yearning
forces a retreat

his love slashing
a cross-hatch in my
heart
he sucks the venom
with lacerated lips, they part…

blood
in his hands
to the blood on my hands
i hold it to my mouth and
savor

severed savior
redeemer-physician
you heal me
you tear me
you scare me

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Cheryl L. Bruno is a writer and blogger with research interests in 19th century Mormon history.

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