We walk in the wilderness
adorned with literacy
cloaked in sophistication
yet lacking in wisdom

We exult in our knowledge
oblivious of our creator
so – when bitten by vipers
of sickness and depravity

…we seek the eyes
of the bronze serpent* of salvation
that we may be healed
from our own transgressions

©Vivian Zems

*Numbers 21:6-9
6Then the Lord sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. 7The people came to Moses and said, “We sinned when we spoke against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses prayed for the people.
8The Lord said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” 9So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived.

 Real Toads– Totems

Poetry Pantry #416