If One

If One

John Savoie

If all the sins were one sin,
what a grave sin that would be.
If all the gallows were one tree,
what a grim tree that would be.
If all men were one man,
what a glorious ruin to grieve.
If all love pulsed in one heart,
what a great heart that would be.
And if all hate gathered in
the sharpened point
of thorns and jeers, nails and spear,
and if that grave sin pierced that great heart
till tears, blood, water, love flowed free,
what a wondrous grace to receive.

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John Savoie
Poet

John teaches great books at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. His poems have appeared in Poetry, Best New Poets, and Poetry in Motion, as well as Dappled Things and the much missed Behemoth.

Photography by De an Sun