Irradiated Antivenom for Revelation Delayed

You know your friend as man knows man.  You know

A man is not a god and maybe as a saint

He fails.  Your heart forgives his faults.  You owe

Respect but reverence, no.  No oil paint

Could capture the charisma of his hair

Unless a Gabriel stooped down to brush

The canvas.  Satan might rise up and snare

Your marrow in a moment made of lush

Religiousness, a Friday Pentecost

Of worship planing down like tongues of fire.

The holiness of friend might be embossed

With perfidy in hallowed prayer’s desire.

  A love feast offers sanctity among

    The challah and the fruits but you are stung.

October 26, 2028