The Cento: A Collection of Collage Poems

Holy Terror

37 dodICI AZPAdu Holy Terror The perfect artist / passes through / afflictions in order to give / universes, races, and nations geometry, physics, and mathematics. The faithful / flow / pure in all their milk. safe from being belittled / from incongruity at all times and places / spiritual creations repair one’s broken hopes. / Fame and fortune ground / each thing / lacking one who can enforce. servants know / the highest level / contains the good and the bad / without the beloved and the hated /dangers of loss and perdition / bearing no resemblance to the woolen cloak. When we find / the throne and the canopy in accordance with / doubt and sadness hidden in everything /watched and recorded, everyone will / given the power make gods out of their / swords. 38 nothing escapes / hearts / destined to go to the intermediary / the unforgivable sin: associating equals with / garbage and thorns to bear / powerful / malingerers. On the day of the conquest between his shoulder blades the clement one / cancels man’s distortions from the city of Mecca to Jerusalem. Bliss and comfort / pleasure and paradise most generous / glory of the Arabs / who believe. superior / knight / guide to good deeds curer of sick hearts / true counselor who has no teacher /the helmet of the holy whose fire burns / the doors of hell and brings dead hearts to life. The unlettered one / constantly sincere toward those who tyrannize / our prayers witness / acts in / answer to / the fragrant distinguisher / torch. 39 Punish the sins of the believers upon the universe / brains boiling in darkness / the messengers / promised the dirt of the world / desires of the flesh as a mercy / on the ground. In prostration / when the moon is full pious and chaste / jinn and angels gather around / the believers. The last one who follows and contains all will not be able to / cleanse us of revenge against injustice. ...