poet’s pride

in suffering the earthly urges
he is religious, he wears his chains
pride-heavy gold
source of gravity to his words
anchor to the flesh
he's eager to unhold

in retiring from life's game
observer, kin to god
unsubject to woman's woes and child
his lack-glory and release
untethered, absconded, 
enlightened increase

has he won God?
he shines but withdraws
desires but purges
burns himself in effigy to the Word
is graduation sin? 
separation from the herd...

is man meant to oppose himself?
does not the family man hide his timidity
bury his mind in mundanity
whose despair is Holy,
whose burden right?
is a man in sin 
if his heavy yolk feels light?

he's surely won god 
but has god won him?
without flesh he is just the word
he's become the beginning!

what of god's gain
desire for the body
for existence and pain
is this poetic rob'ry?

what is Being owed in this swap
carnal cogency, a rendering up
sacrifice, a sacred trade
a separation of all what's made

or synthesis rapture
experience in matter
some filth for purity
before animal's cleansing
and grace for what's bent
for the Prodigal's unbending