Anastasia

You like me are two people,

Tender and bitter.

I watch on your face both softness and defense.

Is all sin defense?

Does goodness consist of being laid bare

Of being wounded by mercy

So that one’s heart softly breaks

And one’s tears are rivers of life –Christ within?

They say the righteous can bleed

From their heart through their mouth

Like an icon dripping myrrh

They taste iron on their tongue

From contrition.

But the heart that is brittle

Does not break but shatters

Upon smallest grief.

Yet flesh can be made out of stone

Can receive green hills, a staff

Noon-day diamonds and a cloak

Some garment of unveiling

Some apocalypse.