The Crowning with Thorns

He leaves much to be desired
at table
never finishes a sentence.
crowds come to drive nails through
the designated holes in his hands.
- a modern cross,
like a disaposable lighter, is propped against an altar -
someone takes bets.
the crowd cheers as he mounts the cross
a crown quickly position'd on his skull
he takes each thorn swallows it.
he holds crown in his right hand
it changes to a mirror.
he spits thorns into the crowd
the cross dissolves
the crowd disappears
he folds the altar
into his pocket
and is gone.

By Jayne Lyn Stahl

Beatitude: 33, Silver Anniversary Issue, San Francisco, 1988