The Men From York

Two men from York stand nigh a woman
Whom in great offense had slain free speech.
They, in their indignation, sought to bury
The bones of Elijah underneath the Broom Tree;
There, they sought their war, and exiled
The good and the bad and the ugly
From off the Earth. Jude and Thomas
Sat aghast, asking, "Why did the world
"Not accept you?" "LORD, they have seen like I!"
Yet, faith departed from the Earth as the two men from York
Sung their hymns, with Mary in great offense betwixt.
"Speak no more, and lie dead---For men are no longer
"Free to pursue truth, but must accept all words
"Canon to the world they have become yoked to."

Jude, Judas and Thomas slept
Sharing one another's dreams;
Jude, Judas and Thomas
All wrote their poetry;
Yet, Judas decried, "The stars are a lie!"
And he, in the dead of night
Walked the streets
And turned Thomas to try his tormented tyrannies.
He did it once to Jude, who in confusion
Bought the book most beloved of Benjamin
To see the stars were accorded to their clockwork
And the hands moved in their precious courses;
All was on time.

Thus, Jude and Thomas said,
"Let me never turn again.
"Let us never go back to our former sin---
"Let us not see Judas' treachery any longer!"

As it was, that thing we abhor is nailed to Christ.
Yet, Mary said, "I am offended at thee!"
Thus, the exile was fierce.

Jude and Thomas both believed
And like Daniel, were unharmed by the Lion.

Jude having once stepped on a serpent's brood
And though it bit, it was like naught.
Thomas, seeing the treachery of Judas Iscariot
Awoke, and like a dream, it was like naught.

The two men from York succored Mary
In great offense at Jude and Thomas---
Beleaguered, with Judas Iscariot
Their Captain.

Thomas said, "They see!"
And Jude said, "Why doth the world reject you?"