Gateway

risen indeed

Waiting in the dark mouth of the cold cave,
considering the boulder before him…
wholly human, more so than any other,

he touches the wound in his side,
sharply inhales, hesitating to move past
the rock insulating him from agony

inflicted by his would-be killers.
Far off, he hears faint screams of children
unable to come to him, muted

by the cold comfort of granite.
Eyes full, he breathes deep, steps forward.
The stone gives up its substance before him

as he passes beyond, into his kingdom.

~ Wry Welwood
published 1996 in poet’s collection A Victor’s Psalm, by Sugar Mountain Press.
re-edited 2023 for Shadow in Light.