Great and Holy Monday

by Marci Rae Johnson

Jesus is almost finished
with his forty days in the desert.

He has written a poem
for each day of his exile,

speaking them aloud while
he wanders in the sand dunes,

the devil following behind, 
licking his heels. We all know

the devil is not worthy even
of untying the Lord’s sandals,

yet he tries to get in
where he can: leaving

the garage door open,
delivering the prescription

to the wrong pharmacy, 
flashing the check engine light

in the new car. And he enjoys
poking the boy possessed

by a demon until he stomps his feet
and repeats nonsense words.

But Jesus climbs all the way
over the dunes to the lake.

Water out as far as he can see,
and after he has untied

his sandals himself, he lets
the waves soothe his broken feet.

Cups his hands for a taste,
not salty but sweet.

---

Marci Rae Johnson works as an editor for a book publisher, and in her previous life she taught college English. Her poems appear or are forthcoming in Image, Mid-American Review, Moon City Review, The MacGuffin, Rhino, The Louisville Review, and 32 Poems, among others. Her third full-length collection, Questionable Baggage, was recently released by Main Street Rag.