Crucifixion

38 THE MINNESOTA REVIEW ANTONY OLDKNOW CRUCIFIXION suggested by CALVARY (1459) by Andrea Mantegna. Jesus Christ and two other delinquents Who'd been caught or tattled on Were driven up an uneven rocky track Carrying shafts of wood to which, When they had stumbled to the top Of the hill, they were nailed And hoisted upright to hang in the sun Till they bled to death. The birds Circled around waiting, there were guards Hanging lethargically about, almost Too lack-lustre to play a game of cards, And there were sobbing women-relatives And one or two frightened friends Of the criminals dotted about among The crowd of interested bystanders, The execution enthusiasts. For these, There was a wee bit of excitement Since it was rumored that one crook Had been a bit of a magician and might Spirit himself down by sleight of hand. But he didn't, and the spectators became On the whole a little bored, and might Have hurled squashed tomatoes at the man If they'd had the forethought to bring them. The actual moment of death Was of course always of interest to them, And they craned forward to hear what Would be said, but one was religious And what he cried out predictable, the others Were not spectacularly original in cursing, So they went home. They made their way From this crucifixion rather quickly Since a storm had come up, and the ground Had seemed to shudder under the flashes, And they said their goodbyes hurriedly OSTRlKER 39 Beneath the thick black clouds And thunder, since the rain was clearly Settling in for the rest of the afternoon. ALICIA OSTRIKER THE KILLING The killing will not stop. A scarlet Hail is always behind my eyes. The morning paper, shreds of flesh, Poisons the bread, the salt, the cheese. Husband, I want to fight the good Battle of hip, and breast, and thigh, Where pleasure, spoil of sinew, breeds Outrageous generosity— I want to see our children spring Free as this coarse grass. I suppose The killing will not stop, the killing Will not stop. Only who knows. Who knows. ...