Noah’s Bones The jasper skeleton of fallen Noah Fossilized in mineral rich mud Not so far from the chalcedony beams That buoyed a sprig cut from the Tree of life over the vast empire Of whale and shark and seaweed groves. His skeleton may remember what the flesh Forgets. Crustaceans devouring the drowned Bodies of soft skinned leopards and Once ferocious bears. The sharks smell Leaking blood and rend flesh with razor teeth. Sunken cities shelter fish schools in tedious numbers. And yet one tender sprig of olive, severed by Dove teeth returning to a vista of gray on gray Prophesies a retreat by the watery empire, A beachhead outpost for the kingdom of the firmament, And wings and legs and hands and sharpened swords. Was it a sword left Noah on his back in the mud? Was it contempt or jealousy or bitterness Behind the hand that struck? What evil did that Great flood wash from the sticky nature of man?
About the Author: John Barnes has been writing poetry for 42 years and has been published in The Chained Muse, The Minison Project Sonnet Collection Series and received the Winter 2022 quarterly award for his submission to The Lyric. He recently performed a featured reading at ArtNewCo in Columbus, Ohio. He is a student of verse and believes in the value of self-education.
Image Credit: Ester Almqvist “Noah’s Thank-offering” Public domain image courtesy of Artvee
As It Ought To Be 