Exegesis
Todd Matson
he spoke of nothing but
kindness, mercy, grace and love
from the pulpit each Sunday
Sunday after Sunday
as one month of Sundays
as one year of Sundays
gave way to the next
because that is how he read
the ancient writings
and Sunday after Sunday
as one month of Sundays
as one year of Sundays
gave way to the next
he was judged by the people
to be too soft on sin
ridiculed for watering down
God’s Holy Word
until one Sunday
the shadow of the man
appeared in the pulpit
this is the gospel truth
from the pulpit
to the congregation
he shouted
“Exegete this!”
and I saw
as if in slow motion
his middle finger rising
