IF THOU BE

I.

The first time the question was asked

He had not eaten in forty days.

His tongue was glued to the roof of His mouth.

The wind off the desert tasted of salt.

The serpent met Him there

with a verse already loaded.

If thou be the Son of God,

command that these stones be made bread.

If thou be.

The serpent did not say He was not.

The serpent said prove it.

The first…