Buddha vs. Micah 7:19

“wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea”

Both peony and quietness fulfill

The night.  The quietness seems larger of

The two, though.  Since the peony spreads frill

On frill, the competition turns to love

Inside the darkness like a bride and groom

Filled flush with shrilled desire, or more like Christ

Awaiting wrapped up Resurrection’s bloom

When death is robbed by floral Jesus’ heist

Of doom.  The whiteness of the peony

Is stronger than the dark.  In one still place

The whiteness looms as if the Savior’s knee

Was never slashed with whip to blossom grace.

  The Buddha has no depth like this to give.

     He fails to offer whitely to forgive.

©   Phillip Whidden