Jairus

he had an only daughter about twelve years of age, and she was dying

-----------/Jairus


The twilight of adolescence
burial of girl
predawn of woman, breaking day of grace and etiquette
pride in proper decorum, sly coquetry (and a concomitant
father's slight consternation – though she reminds him
of himself in a peculiar way; jocular)
a slender outstretched arm
whisked away (slowly, as slowly as possible) to her groom
a mosaic patchwork of crying and smiling
dazzling beauty, heart arresting sex appeal bemusement
that she is the seed of my body, lowly and unremarkable
as I am
that a cruel new moon interrupts: death
time regressing. Night starless. Wolves growling. At her fate.
I am the slave, she was to be the master, I the pot of human dung
she the rose, her mother the water; absolution
for all my monstrous mischievous malfeasance – the better
portrait of my family name, that Hades attempts wresting from my hands
too soon
too soon
What prayers? What laws? What solemnity at what feast?
Brazen Balderdash – we just jujune jews jailed
by a façade of mighty pretentiousness
powerless to help my own princess, ineptitude and inability to stand strong
during her last words "Dad, I hear the clarion cock
crowing concerning a new day at hand: Jesus....savior of man's ills,
balm for our folly; (my) hallowed happy hope"
followed by incessant coughing
My knees trembling more than my arms:
face at your feet
In tragedy loquacious men are of few words, notwithstanding
your presence sublime
in your voice, even though garbled amidst the uproarious mob
pleading for sense and sanity and sensibility during the maelstrom
of miracles (perceived or believed)
I hear heaven pure and unadulterated, pitch of angels.
I just beg you please don’t lapse. Please see the last kiss I place
on her forehead before the pallbearers take her away
and bury every last dream and inspiration I have ever had into the ground
midnight
she is my only pulse in a rapidly cracking heart, twelve and dying
when you say she is only sleeping
I hope beyond all measure you mean sunrise and high noon
sunrise and high noon
sunrise and high noon again
sunrise and high noon
again

(that my baby will wake up; banishing baneful this darkness)



"Do not weep; she is not dead, but sleeping."

---------Luke 8:40-56
So it was, when Jesus returned, that the multitude welcomed Him, for they were all waiting for Him. And behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue. And he fell down at Jesus’ feet and begged Him to come to his house, for he had an only daughter about twelve years of age, and she was dying. But as He went, the multitudes thronged Him. Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any, came from behind and touched the border of His garment. And immediately her flow of blood stopped. And Jesus said, "Who touched Me?"
When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, "Master, the multitudes throng and press You, and You say, 'Who touched Me?'" But Jesus said, "Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me." Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately. And He said to her, "Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace." While He was still speaking, someone came from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying to him, “Your daughter is dead. Do not trouble the Teacher." But when Jesus heard it, He answered him, saying, "Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well." When He came into the house, He permitted no one to go in except Peter, James, and John, and the father and mother of the girl. Now all wept and mourned for her; but He said, "Do not weep; she is not dead, but sleeping." And they ridiculed Him, knowing that she was dead. But He put them all outside, took her by the hand and called, saying, "Little girl, arise." Then her spirit returned, and she arose immediately. And He commanded that she be given something to eat. And her parents were astonished, but He charged them to tell no one what had happened.