Harvest - by James Elliott

Harvest

Natural hemp gnaws at Adam’s apple.

He is the wheat you've taken for tares,

When all else is chaff and worthy of fire.

This is the harvest and he is the seed

You will sow after winter. He is

The precious fruit of your fields, of your labor.

Sow. Water. Fertilize. Burn.

The hemp is harsh against his skin,

Burns through it, unnatural, just as you said.

Let us rejoice in this day of salvation!

For now there can be no more sin?…

In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Mother?

Yes.

Do you love me?

Yes.

Do you love me more than this?

Apples and oranges. Apples and oranges.

Do you love me more than this? Do you love me?

My son, what about temples, and priesthood, and tithes?

But, mother, do you even love me?

When man was made and woman ate the fruit,

God sent the man and woman to the east,

To multiply and make the nations great,

And that is that, and that is all they wrote.

(They joke of Adam and Steve and Eve.)

Now, come and hear the prophet’s voice,

Come and hear the prophet’s voice.

Father?

Yes.

Do you love me?

Yes.

Do you love me more than this?

Apples and oranges. Apples and oranges.

Do you love me more than this? Do you love me?

My son, what about temples, and priesthood, and tithes?

But, father, do you even love me?

Come, and come, but do not come.

Come to Sunday School.

Watch and hear: Adam and Eve,

And jokes about Steve, and laughter...

Here is chapter and verse,

And words of God's men:

Joyless life, and joyless death,

And don’t forget the cities of Lot!

(The boy is okay, he can hold his breath;

One...two...three...one-thousand...two-thousand...three…)
Then Adam and Eve and some about Steve.

They laugh, and then the bell.

Love the sinner, hate the sin,

In the name of Jesus Christ.

Amen.

Natural rope against his skin,

Gnaws at Adam’s apple.

He is the wheat you've taken for tares,

When all else is chaff and worthy of fire.

This is the harvest and he is the seed

You will sow after winter. He is

The precious fruit of your fields, of your labor.

Sow. Water. Fertilize. Burn.

The rope is harsh against his skin,

Burns through it, unnatural, just as you said.

Let us rejoice in this day of salvation!

For now there can be no more sin?…

In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.