The Temple

by Andreas Fleps

Jesus, Christ, I was the temple
and overturned tables and the worth
clanking across the floor
like shackles and the doves
in their cages and the prayers
which weren't there and the disgust
and anger in your voice
and the shock covering all the faces
and in this den of robbers I stole
a miracle from the opposite
of your touch and I'm your doubt
and the blood pouring from your pores
and I'm the heavy stone moved
and I entered your tomb
so you wouldn't have to be dead alone
and I wrapped myself around
your lashed and pierced flesh
and lived.

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Andreas Fleps is a poet/writer based in the suburbs of Chicago. He studied theology and philosophy at Dominican University, and his debut collection of poems entitled Well into the Night (via Energion Publications) was released at the end of 2020. His work has appeared in publications such as Marathon Literary Review, The Rappahannock Review, Waxing & Waning, Wild Roof Journal, The Windhover, and the award-winning anthology Glissando!, among others.