From: moh2@quads.uchicago.edu (Kateri/Mary Anne)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.poems
Subject: Re: Jesus on a Stick Burning with Pastrami -- jchien
Date: 3 Jan 93 04:25:51 GMT
Reply-To: moh2@midway.uchicago.edu
Organization: University of Chicago

In article <1993Jan2.232841.11021@vax.oxford.ac.uk> vollrath@vax.oxford.ac.uk (Alun ap Rhisiart) writes:
>In article <1992Dec31.203215.25089@leland.Stanford.EDU>, jchien@leland.Stanford.EDU (Jennifer Crystal Fang-Chien) writes:
>> 
>Jennifer,
>
>No criticism, I loved this! It goes into my personal anthology. Thanks
>
>Alun.


My only problem is with the last line....maybe I'm missing something,
but I don't get it.  And it doesn't seem to work well. A friend
reading over my shoulder agreed with me....I wish we had more
constructive comments.  Other than that, great poem.  And I don't say
that often.

 - Mary Anne

>> 
>> 	[Thanks to Michael Lichter for the inspiring the title
>> 	and imagery.]
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 	Jesus on a Stick Burning with Pastrami
>> 
>> 
>> 	The second coming
>> 	came from the hands of cuisine innovators 
>> 	on Christmas night.  The streets were dark,
>> 	the stores closed for the holidays,
>> 	and only the Jewish restaurants
>> 	welcomed the earth with open doors.
>> 
>> 	Three white-robed men
>> 	carrying foil-wrapped presents and acrid incense
>> 	entered the restaurant.  They sat apart
>> 	from the rest, and even their menu was of another sort
>> 	(I could tell from the straw manger and horses on the cover
>> 	instead of rye).  They discussed what to order,
>> 	throwing out choices such as "Lamb with Onions and Cream",
>> 	"Pasta made with Extra Virgin Olive Oil", "Cheese
>> 	Wafers and Wine", "Fish Loaves and Breadsticks",
>> 	and even "Bloody Mary".  Apparently these offerings
>> 	weren't miraculous enough for such a holy feast.
>> 
>> 	They quietly called over the Jewish manager,
>> 	gesticulating in a manner that demanded
>> 	improved service or public embarrassment.  He nodded,
>> 	then hurriedly talked to the chief cook.  They argued
>> 	and nearly came to fists, but with a fluorish
>> 	they finally presented a silver-lined, cloudy white menu --
>> 	the plastic cover shining as if newly ordained.
>> 	Opening the menu with their fingertips,
>> 	the three men examined the fresh offering carefully.
>> 	As if on a cue, they said, "Yes, one, please:
>> 	'Jesus on a Stick Burning with Pastrami.'"
>> 
>> 	The chef began to stir, mix, and fry,
>> 	flipping a small piece of flesh on a pan.
>> 	In a few minutes, he dressed it on a stick,
>> 	and slipped pastrami on the other end.
>> 	He brought it to the three men, then with a lighter,
>> 	he set the stick on fire.  One white-robed man
>> 	took the flaming stick, shaped in a cross,
>> 	and held it above his head as he stood on the table.
>> 	     "The time has come!" he declared.
>> 	"Behold, the second coming of Christ!"
>> 
>> 	The patrons turned to look, and the figure
>> 	on the cross, dressed in white,
>> 	came to life and screamed in agony.
>> 	The voice was soft but we could all hear, 
>> 	"The fire! Put out the fire!"
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 		-- jennifer crystal chien
>> 
>> c/c welcome, as always.
>-- 
>***********************************
>* Alun ap Rhisiart                *    | When I wrote this, only God | 
>* Animal Behaviour Research Group *    |  and I knew what it meant.  |
>* Oxford University               *    | Now, only God knows.        |
>* vollrath@vax.ox.ac.uk           * 
>***********************************


-- 
i thank you God for most this amazing
day:  for the leaping greenly spirits of the trees
and a blue true dream of sky; and for everything
which is natural which is infinite which is yes		 - e.e.cummings