The Preacher Man Saves Lily’s Soul (1914)

I. The land is as the Garden of Eden before him

Isaiah Jackson flee Mississippi,
steamer to Providence, raise up he voice
in a fire of holiness, shout out
salvation abroad—
          pour down Spirit
          pour down!

The preacher man plaster revival
on lampposts, plant him a tent
in a field—
          pour
          down Spirit
          pour down!

The Whore and the Horseman, they ride against nations.
The love of all people gone cold—

          pour down
          Spirit
                    pour
                    down!

II. Gather the people, sanctify the congregation

Isaiah set they soul afire. Lily wake, clapping hymns
to the night. Her sister sigh out of sleeping,
the dark air all live-up with light. They follow they mother
to the white tent cross Bain Town. Dark fingers lace white.

Isaiah call down Father, Son, and Holy Fire:
          Raise them stones up, scorpion-walker,
                    Raise up people in his name!
          Take that cross up, serpent-handler,
                    Cast out demons in his name!

When news headlines strike young men afire,
Saiah cry out, Take arms up and fight!
He raise he flame-voice up in prayer.
          Blaze down Spirit!
          Catch light!

III. I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh

Lily watch the preacher face ignite.
The world catch fire, Lily flame and fall,
and new words sparkle from her mouth.

She come home from the meeting Christ-ridden, bright.


The Carpenter Seals Lily’s Widowhood (1943)

While Nassau fixed its eyes on dukes and counts
and murdered knights, while every mouth was fat
with feathered corpses, cindered beds and fingerprints
on screens too charred to trust, with forearms scarred and burned,
with shady gumshoes, Nazis, Dagoes, Swedes and Jews,
diverted lawyers, loyal wives — Eddie faltered in the heat.

Each day his limb-bloat hardened. Poison twisted in his gut.
His skin grew deadleaf dry and black like clouds drawn thick
across the sky. He couldn’t piss; he couldn’t sweat; and when his heart
made flutters in his chest, he whispered, Love, my house is burning.

Lily checked the stove, the yard, the sky, and whispered back:
No fire here. But Eddie smiled. He knew the truth, and lacked
the words to tell it. The doctor stopped at the bedroom door
and beckoned Lily, shook his head. My dear, he said, no fire there.


Copyright the author(s) ©2007–2010