God's lonely man

 God’s lonely man, crawling 
through wild tangle of flowers, speckled
  with the blood of martyrs martyred
      in the splendor 
      of tender youth.

 God’s lonely man, roving
through deserts of white heat, bearing
   stones in rattling breast, earning
        his wage of 
        sin and simony.

 God’s lonely man, carrying
severed head upon palm: calloused
   and blistered, anointed with myrrh,
     speaking in tongues 
     Thy dreadsome names.

 God’s lonely man, adrift
athwart rippling black waters, bound
       in halo of blinding light: this,
           Thy sclave encrowned, 
           with thorns of rust.

 God’s lonely man, carving
talismans upon leathered hide
  pulsed by fevered froth of blood:
      God breathes under
       the shape of things.

 God’s lonely man, chewing
the mangled cud of piety, ardor 
    mauling his breast, intestines
        plunging: rosy,
        in great fiery coils.

 God’s lonely man, undone:
a flower wilted, fire-carnag’d
 by God, blest and immolated— 
     bells chime his fate:
     world born of fire.