Jim Bennett: The Miracle

THE MIRACLE
Simon takes the measured polished wooden pieces paints the joints with boiling wood-glue from the workshop pot — it stinks of fish places them on his bench — blesses himself with the sign of the cross — pushes them together and wipes off the surface glue. later he holds it up admiring the shape then returns it on his workbench lips move to a silent prayer as he takes a 30 centimetres cast figure from a crate blows off the polystyrene-ball packaging and with care takes tacks and a small hammer to nail Jesus to the wooden cross on the last tap Jesu's hand flies off and spins up hits Simon in the face. makes a small red mark Later I hear some people say it was a miracle he didn't loose an eye
JIM BENNETT

THE MIRACLE

Simon takes the measured
polished wooden pieces
paints the joints with boiling wood-glue
from the workshop pot — it stinks of fish
places them on his bench
— blesses himself with the sign of the cross —
pushes them together and
wipes off the surface glue.

later he holds it up admiring the shape
then returns it on his workbench
lips move to a silent prayer as
he takes a 30 centimetres cast
figure from a crate
blows off the polystyrene-ball packaging
and with care takes tacks and a small hammer
to nail Jesus to the wooden cross

on the last tap
Jesu's hand flies off and spins up
hits Simon in the face.
makes a small red mark

Later I hear some people say
it was a miracle
he didn't loose an eye

JIM BENNETT

Jim Bennett is a writer and performer of poetry who lives near Liverpool, UK. He teaches Creative Arts at the University of Liverpool. He has another poem on the Zimmerzine Archive. His homepage is at http://www.poetrykit.org/jim/index.htm

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