here is a picture of me
waiting at the gateway

who knows if the spirit of man rises upward
he who is filled with the word is like a newborn child
wasps and venomous serpents will not sting him
the wicked beasts of sodom will not pounce upon him
he will not be attacked by plagues of prey

do not be afraid of those who kill the body
but cannot kill the soul
rather, be afraid of the One whose bones are soft, whose muscles are weak,
whose grip is firm
your fathers tested and tried me
our relationship seemingly falling apart at the seams
but our grandmothers were both seamstresses for a reason

he who is despised and rejected by men
a man of sorrows, and familiar with
suffering
he has not experienced the union of man and woman
he did not do many miracles there
because his manhood lacked faith
he screams all day without becoming hoarse
this is perfect harmony

whom can i trust
when even nature conspires against me?

for he himself is our peace
who has made the two one two one and has
destroyed the barrier
the dividing wall of hostility

knowing harmony is constancy
knowing him is enlightenment
let it consume me
this is so contrived

it is not wise to rush about
controlling the breath causes strain
if too much energy is consumed, darkness will follow light
this is not the way of jesus
whatever is contrary to him will not last long

we must each choose our words
as you have chosen your silences

found poem using the bible, the tao te ching, she (a book of poetry by saul williams)