0

Poem: “The Cage”

by on Aug 21, 2011 in Poetry
Print This Article

The Cage

The trees were steel
And the ax of wood
In the desert of God
Where Jesus stood

Cut down this forest
Satan said
And use the steel
To bake our bread

And when you have
This ration baked
Prove yourself
Your own namesake

Throw yourself
From wall to rock
If angels are
Your Father’s flock

Then when you have
Silenced me
More powerful
That you may be

Worship power
At my feet
And change yourself
To wine and wheat

The wood was stronger
Than the steel,
Take Me, said Christ
To be that meal

Then by that stroke
A wooden blade
Destroyed the cage
That hell had made

Pavel
April 4, 2011


Pavel Chichikov is a Washington DC-based poet and photographer. He has written for both the secular and the Catholic press on issues as diverse as Russian nuclear weapons systems, Olympic athletes, and miracles. His books include From Here to Babylon: Poems by Pavel Chichikov,  Lion Sun: Poems by Pavel Chichikov, Mysteries and Stations in the Manner of Ignatius, and Animal Kingdom. Pavel may be heard reading his works on catholicradiointernational.com and on pavelreads.com. His poetry regularly appears on "The Poetry of Pavel Chichikov."