the grace and peace of god

and his son made true

from beyond this world

are here today with you

as we say goodbye 

to a sheep of god

although a preacher

he too was flawed 

like all of us

before almighty’s tide 

we all are weak

with sin and pride

the lord gives us life
and takes away our breath
his justice is righteous
for he alone names death

As the Funeral Priest scans the room, his gaze lingers on a lion cub standing next to the widowed wife, and then continues:

fear him for god
is righteous and pure
his mercy is granted
but our sins endure

bow your heads
submit and confess
for only through judgment
does god’s heaven bless

The congregation obeys and recites “amen.” The priest sprinkles the casket with holy water and across it lays a funeral pall. He lifts a thurible suspended by chains and swings it rhythmically as incense blooms into the rafters. Zar’s eyes remain fixed on his father, arms crossed over his chest, and thinks to himself:

the priest’s words

polished and bland

not what my father

held in his hand

With the priest’s final commendation, Zar joins the other pallbearers to carrying the coffin out of the small country church nestled in the Woods of Wisdom. In the hearse, Zar’s mother asks him:

dear zarathustra

are you doing ok

how are you feeling

on this dark day

Zar responds, quietly:

father was a great man

provided love and security

our emotional foundation

preaching god’s purity 

but the darkness called sin

the priest so fiercely named

is it not born in all of us 

when innocence is flamed 

this i do not understand 

how morality is born

who forges the rules

and names it reform

The mother responds:

there you go again zar

always in your head

trying to solve

what is it we dread

next year you will learn

in the academy on the ridge

answers come from the lord

where heaven and earth bridge

but be careful my son

what truths you defend

like the priest at the altar

your mind can offend