Kerry James Marshall, A Portrait of the Artist as a Shadow of His Former Self (1980)
Manducation, noun
Chewing.
Eating.
Believing that eating the Eucharist is actually eating the flesh of Jesus.
I
On July 24, 568 BCE
by the River Chebar in Chaldea
(Iraq), Ezekiel, son of Buzi,
the despised, runs into God, whose four understrapping angels ride on
quadruple aquamarine and emerald
beryl wheels.
Yahweh berates him. Where does he get off telling the Israelites, "The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge"*? Don't worry, be happy!
II
In koinē Greek, "Thanks" is εὐχαριστέω.
Centuries later, Jesus replies, in that adorable Galilean Aramaic
accent of his : “You’re welcome! Have another slice!”
III
Cross.
Nails.
Savior.
Some assembly required.
Divine appearances concluding in a trice,
seize the fleeting aujourd'hui, if nice.
Everything's connected to everything else.
What you do is what's desired.
IV
In the thirteenth century, spectacle
lenses were at first made of beryl.
In German, glasses are hence called Brille,
as is the transparent scale shielding
the eyes of geckos, snakes, and skinks.
The crystalline structure of beryl
*Ezekiel 18:2, 32 (KJV)
September 11, 2024
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