Letter To the Man Possessed by Demons

Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones. - Mark 5:5

I thought Christ was the spoon
that hollows the gourd, the fist

pulling out that stringy seed,
but he only made an opening;

I had to see myself through it.
You don’t have to tell me how

you went back and buried all
the drowned swine—I know.

I’m like you: a lover of graves
and the dirt it takes to fill them.

Don’t be ashamed: if you come here,
we won’t talk about that

other life. I will prepare a meal;
you will tell me your new name.