an angel transposes II Kings 2 into the 21st century
When Elijah & Elisha
crossed all eight lanes of the hectic 410
every Toyota & tractor-trailer in full trajectory
along the highway was flash frozen
as in a still photograph after Elijah’d struck
the pavement with his rolled-up jacket
When the roar of traffic
resumed behind them Elisha turned & saw fifty men
on the opposite slope like parents
faithfully watching a playoff game
Suddenly a whirlwind of flame
like the cartoon Tasmanian devil came
between them like a shimmering grocery cart
pulled by heavenly horses Elisha let out a cry
& Elijah was taken up more swiftly
than fighter jets can fly
Then Elisha struck the pavement & once again
crossed all eight lanes of the busy 410
receiving the fifty prophets’ esteem
though they didn’t quite get what they’d just seen
–
D.S. Martin is poet-in-residence at McMaster Divinity College and series editor for the Poiema Poetry Series from Cascade Books. His poetry collections include Ampersand (2018) and Conspiracy of Light (2013).