The divine shadow of the Law,
A shadow of judgment to come,---
Armies rape, murder, steal, destroy.
Why does the Bible have it thus?
Is it because God is that of
An immoral monster? Or, is't
That the Shadow must integrate
Within us, for which to be good?
Is it because rape, robbery
Murder and theft is within us
And there must be peace expressed through
Most barbaric human nature?
Subconsciously, the Law speaks masked
Natures of man and woman, so
That the shadow stays appeased by
Vengeance in the literary 
Form, and not corporeal worlds?

Walking down the path at the State Park
I saw Pastor A___. My eyes naturally look
At a person's chest, which is a bad habit of mine;
She shouted my name, and I stopped to talk.

"So, are you now a Methodist or are you still
"Preaching as a Lutheran?" I asked coyly.
A look of astonishment fell over her face,
Like she couldn't possibly ever be Methodist...
"I'm still a Lutheran, preaching at D____."
She said to tell the family she said hello
And that she wanted updates from me and my dad.

Though, I  wondered while walking up the trail
If her bewilderment was because of my shyness...
My bad habit of looking at people's chests
Which I also did up the trail, as I saw an older couple.
But, I realized, it was probably because I had mistaken
Her as preaching Methodism, and not Lutheranism...

To which, I was a little puzzled as to the great difference.
To me, Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian and Episcopalian
Are the faith that sings old songs, preaches platitudes for sermons
Sings Kumbaya, and accepts Liberal Theology.

But, to her, there is a great difference...
And that's why I'm glad I know enough about Theology
To not really know it myself.
As like Literary Theory,
Theology is something that knowing a little helps a long way
But knowing too much gets you lost in the weeds.

We parted on good terms. But, I wonder which
Of my bad habits was really the reason she
Seemed a bit offended?
I don't know, but felt a bit embarrassed,
And used it as a tool to keep two notes:
"Don't make assumptions;
"And look people in the eyes."

Dear,
Chris Lunsford

	You spoke everything I've wanted to. Your song was good, but your response, and rejecting 8 Million dollars is big to me. That gives me hope. We do need to get rid of our idolatry. The internet is like a parasite.
	Why did Rich Men North of Richmond become so incendiary? Therein lies the problem with our culture. There is no politics in your song. You lived through what I've seen. People struggling at Warehouses, making bare subsistence salaries.
	You didn't sell out, and neither will I. A simple audience for what I sell--as I'm not capable of doing what you do for a living, I'm too soft--is what I need. Don't take the money. It's a trap. But, seeing it divide, it gives me a prescient thought about how people are going to react when my writing becomes famous. I don't want fame like you have... I can already see the effect it has on you. Making you divisive, when you wrote a simple song, like Hank Williams Jr. or Johnny Cash. Now, even the Folk Tune is politically divisive, and I'm not sure I want that surrounding my work, either. As it's sure to be misunderstood. Subtlety is lost on this generation.
	Do I like your song? I have to admit it's decent. Does it capture my sentiment? Not as much as your response did, where you said we have to get back to God, and forsake our idolatry. I love you, Chris. You're my hero for the moment. Not for the song you wrote, but for your immaculate humility. I wish I had that humility. I don't know if I would reject an 8 Million Dollar Book Deal, either. Maybe I would if it meant corrupting the message I'm proclaiming.
	You have a friend in me, if you preserve on this path, Chris. But, if your situation improves because of your song, just remember Paul was a shepherd who earned his wages. Like me, you probably want a humble wage. You're satisfied. I don't want your fame. I don't want your fortune. But I do want you to know, I understand you. That kind of success damages the soul, and I know it from having seen it in others. Handle celebrity with grace, Chris. It's the one thing holding me back, is the knowledge of the corruptive powers of Fame and Fortune.
	God bless!

Anubis sits atop a vessel
In the pattern of the Ark of the Covenant.
How the LORD God freed Israel
From idolatry, and gave them a pure law.
For, instead of Anubis,
It is the Reign of God
Between the Cherubim.'
The Curtains of the Tabernacle
Cry out that Exodus was real.
So does the Ark of the Covenant.
So does all evidence prove the LORD Jehovah Jireh,

Fairest of them all,
Do you wish to cause my fall?
Enticed I am in your trap of flattery.
How I would love to be thy friend,
And walk through my paths until the end,
Yet for all you are is all I ever wanted,
You are more dangerous than a Bear or Bobcat
In the woods. The Bear shan't attack
Unless her cubs are disturbed,
And the Bobcat, so long as you nare
Turn your back, you shall be safe.

Our good Father is in heaven
With flaming blue eyes of fire,
And a burnished sienna
Skin, with white light as a vestment
Of purest hue, and wooly hair.
Behind him is a rainbow of
Emerald, and around him are
Twenty-four elders clothed in robes.
Before the throne are Cherubim;
Each with the face of a man, calf
(Which is a cherub's face) Lion
And Eagle, with omniscient eyes.

Fascists on the left of me
Fascists on the right...
QAnon and Antifa
Skull and Guy Fawkes Masks;
The SS thunderbolt and raised black fist.
The swastika and hammer and anvil.

Feudalism, feudalism, it rears its ugly head again.
But, remember my loves, when they pushed too far
The heads of the wicked did roll.

We don't want your reorganizations of society.
Just that Old Glory and Star Spangled Banner;
Our Halcyon memories, we want them for all
And all the new generations.

My good friend, 
My gentle friend,
My stalwart friend
During a time of trouble---

I ate a peach today
And its sweet savorty
Was on my breath like a
Candy, which lingered there long.

Just like the savorty
Of my Cinnamon and
Ginger with tomato
Basil and Oregano.
Just like the savorty
Of the Thyme and Tarragon
In my Chicken Noodle Soup;
Or the Gumbo I make
With the Mint, Tarragon
Bay Leaf, and Three Alarm
Pepper, honey and lime zest.

I was taught to enjoy this.