Think there’s any Jesus
in the poem? Trust me:
there’s not.

Jesus is staying away from this
the way that once upon a time the fish 
on either side of the Red Sea learned to avoid 

their former space in the divided waters,
no matter how they longed to be
with their loved ones on the other side.

The dry land between them,
the lane of separation and escape,
offered them nothing while it offered others 

everything. But don’t assume
there’s any Moses
in this or any of my poems.

Deliverance is for the future
and this poem
is in the moment.

No Jesus, no Moses.
Just you and the fish
wondering what’s happening.

Me too, friend.  Me too.
All this Biblical stuff,
the walls of water on either side.

Whose poem do you want it to be?
It won’t be the one I wrote.
Whoever you find there sneaked in

when I wasn’t looking, I swear.
You know how water distorts.
Those fish could be anyone.  

Don’t be fooled. 
That’s how I wrote it.
Anyone could be in here.