Jesus said to me Did you mean

to draw some moral 
from your own life, how you found love 

so late? How though you weren’t patient,
weren’t kind, in pursuit were ruthless, 

it was given to you anyway? Though
that story’s not done, not proven, 

you have some wisdom to share 
with the loveless now, 

do you, 
something they should or shouldn’t do? 

The gay boy, the raped girl, the libeled widow 
(Jesus now resting his abraded hand on the book)? 

Go ahead then, speak. 
Promise them something. 

Patrick Donnelly | Jesus said Will someone
Contents | Mudlark No. 61 (2015)