wood

a story that starts
with a wooden manger
and ends with a wooden cross
holds in it
a dire warning of trauma
and pain

i know this
better than most
because my hands are full of splinters
breaking down both cradle
and crucifix
looking for meaning and faith 

a story about a carpenter turned rabbi
should end with wood turned holy
but if this is true
then why do all these pews
feel so sharp
and why am i
bleeding
in the aisle

and i am wondering
if god is going all in
on this wood theme
because it’s easy to build with
or just because it’s easy
to burn up
or so warns the church sign
down the road 

and the only comfort i have
in the midst of all this trauma
and pain
and splinters
and bonfires
is a man who chose to rewrite
the ending to his story
on stone
instead of wood