Great Poem

John Piper posted this poem on the Desiring God blog this morning, and in light of last weeks message I thought it was worth sharing.  Piper considers it one of the best poems ever written on a biblical text and I think it is amazing as well (not that my opinion on it matters).  Karsten is on of Piper's sons and is reasonably well-know for his poetry, much like his father.  This poem is completely different than anything I have ever read.  Don't read Luke 18:25 until after you read the poem.

Luke 18.25
by Karsten Piper 

He spread his blanket on the sand, 
kneeled and arranged his bowls and tools:
hook, mallet, clamp, chisel, rasp, razor.

His smile glinted in the rongeur’s claws,
and upside down in the curette’s spoon.
Light shone out of the needle’s eye.

“Hoosh,” he said and began plucking hairs, 
paring calluses, shearing wool, shaving
to the follicles, cutting to the quick.

He sorted these, trimming skin with skin,
hair with hair, into rows of clay bowls,
and set a large basin to catch each sour drip

as he sliced the hide and used both fists
to yank back the whole stubbled, gray pelt,
as wet and red on its underside as afterbirth.

He piled this heavily away, draping it 
in clean linen, and turned to the meat and bone 
heaving under sheer, tight membrane.

Sawteeth chewed into femur, rib and shoulder.
Pliers twisted and wrenched away tendons
until everything softened, canted, and collapsed—

yet not one sliver dies. Each ribbon and shard 
bawls for the horror and hurt of their missing,
wishing for the old braying wholeness.

Pain bloodies evening and morning, 
stabbing day after day from even the first cuts, 
like the slow light of far stars.

Eyeballs and heart float alone in the last bowl, 
dark and defenseless, quavering when he leans down 
and they recognize in his eyes how little is left.

“Easy now, Camel,” he says and lifts me 
in his fingertips, one quivering strand at a time, 
through the eye of the needle.

-Kyle-