Beneath the Gaze of Spiritual Machinery

History will not tell you this but I was there
a gnarly oak branch growing out my back
animals conceal buried acorns
Julius Caesar ignites his clothing
Jesus Christ recites the Brehon Laws of ancient Ireland
Mary Magdalene instructs me to bring my own basket
typewriters made of ice float in the sea
poets climb staircases carved into ice mountains
your neighbour conceals snakeskin sheathing his heart
the guardians of upper eternity affix their shadows
maps made of powdered sugar swirl into the wind
I forget the knotted scarf
I forget to die
I wash lead cisterns
my eyelids purple with prophetic script
beneath the gaze of spiritual machinery
I said take me with you.
