The Unredeemed Thief

Once the earth stopped groaning
after the storm had passed
they took us down
from the weeping trees
and laid us dead
on the steaming earth.
They had broken our legs
with masons’ hammers
stripped our
broken
bodies
bare
the holy one
was carried off
for resurrection
and
tongues of fire
he offered to walk me back
from death
not understanding
my wish
to remain
unredeemed
to rise
and return
to a short
wilful life
of licentiousness
and crime