The Watch

THE WATCH

I WISH THEY WOULDN^'T WEAR A WATCH AT MASS

I MEAN IT'S OUT OF PLACE WITH THE COSTUMES THAT THEY WEAR

I MEAN...HE EXTENDS HIS ARMS

AND THERE'S HIS WATCH AND HALF HIS ARM EXPOSED

IT'S ALMOST AS IF THE COSTUMES WEREN'T MADE FOR PRAYING

AS IF THEY DIDN'T FIT FOR PRAYING

BUT IT'S REALLY THE CONSECRATION

I MEAN...THERE CHRIST IS

HELD IN TIMELESS WONDER FOR US ALL TO SEE

AND THERE^'S THE WATCH

AND IT BOTHERS ME

OR SHOULD IT

PERHAPS IT HAS MORE SYMBOLISM

THAN ANYTHING ELSE WE DO

IF TIMELESS GOD COULD TAKE THE TIME

TO SEND HIS SON TO MAKE IT HOLY

THEN I SHOULD WELCOME WATCH AND HOST

AS SIGNS PORTRAYING BOTH

THAT THAT SON CAME

TO MAKE NOW HOLY

THIS TIME THIS AGE THIS MINUTE HOLY

PERHAPS WE SHOULD MAKE IT PART OF PRIESTLY GARB

THAT'S A SILLY THOUGHT

IT WOULD TAKE TWENTY CANONS AND A PAPAL LAW

AND THEOLOGICAL ARGUMENTS ABOUT WHICH ARM IS BEST

AND THEN SOME AVANT-GARDE WOULD DECLARE

THAT SUN DIALS ARE MORE SYMBOLIC

WE HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF NOVELTY

PERHAPS INSTEAD OF COMPLAINING

I SHOULD WELCOME

SIGHT OF CLOCK ON ARM

FOR NOW IS THE ACCEPTABLE TIME

NOW IS THE DAY OF SALVATION

AND NOW HE HANGS IN TIMELESS WONDER

HELD BY HANDS

AND WATCHED BY WATCH

AND HE BLESSES

NOW

FRANK A VOLLMER