Here and in this time of the second caesar
you are brought by the hand of another Rome
to make that necessary pilgrimage
to where your faith and flesh and father came from
through first the gate she guards to give away
and second shapeless dust, the holy city,
as all men go by parts the way they came
except Elijah, whose also virgin death
brought surely shame.
There’s sin in coming gently
where men come hard.
Fall down who is and all you were shall rise.
You are your mother and your father’s eyes.
Who goes beside you on the single flame
who commends her going on your name
is the life and all the resurrection.
Fall three thousand days and rise
and fall again with praise and benediction.
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