Cyclops

Imagine the Cyclops
seeing the fiery stake
nearing his bleary eye,
how his entire world
was light and then nothing
but darkness. Imagine Jesus
in the tomb with holes
in his hands, how the stone
rolled away, and three days
of sun rushed to meet him
all at once. Did he turn his back
to the world, or stumble around
until he found his sight. I am asking
what happened to the Cyclops
after Odysseus escaped
and there were no more stones
to throw. Did he slink back
to the shadows of his cave,
or did he take a moment
to lift his chin to the sky.
Even if it was covered in clouds,
Jesus must have raised his hands
to block the sun, and maybe
the light paused
in his wounds
but just imagine the shock
when it all poured through.

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This poem also appears in the August 2023 issue of U.S. Catholic (Vol. 88, No. 8, page 8). Click here to subscribe to the magazine.