Epilogue to Unholy Sonnets

Christian Century, March 27, 2002 by Mark Jarman

Epilogue to Unholy Sonnets

   Today is fresh, and yesterday is stale.
   Today is fast, and yesterday is slow.
   Today is yes, and yesterday is no.
   Today is news, and yesterday's a tale.
   The grave is empty. Last night it was full.
   The glorious means of death was once a shame.
   Someone is God who had a common name
   That you might give a child or animal.
   It happens overnight. The world is changed.
   The bottles in the cellar all decant.
   The stars sign the new cosmos at a slant.
   And everybody's plans are rearranged.
   Today we meet our maker, in a flash
   That turns the ash of yesterday to flesh.