Jesus wept

Jesus wept
about the time the corn was knee high
and the hail had come through
when the dogs were skeletons
sleeping in on a ruddy August day
skin and bones and break neck
speeding down a dirt road
your hands in my hand in my lap on my neck
I think He’d have liked this time of
stolen smoking simmering sultry summer
year
would have taken off his sandles and skipped rocks across puddles or cricks
the creaking of His knees
the crease of his hands
the lines on his cheeks

See
summer passes and the corn harvests
and we walk to school after the truck
dies on the side of seven mile road

I think I’ll cry tomorrow when you
fail to show for fourth period
leave a note that says
the time is now
the time has come
the time has passed
I think Jesus wept
when He saw you give up in that garage
slam the door
slow your breath
lose your mind