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Some Questions Raised by Observing the
Church of the Firstborn Sign On Highway 99 S.

SO....Jesus had siblings? 
Imagine His Sister then--sliding 

a sweaty hand up shepherds' robes, 
reaching into woolly darkness. Suppose

She got pregnant like her mother, 
before She got married. Could She find another 

easy-going Joseph? When their friends 
said: Oh Sure, God comes again.

in that tone, could Jesus keep in mind 
let he who is without sin...?

Let's say one Brother was a goof, scuffed
his sandals in the Gallilean dust, 

let the donkey get loose 
in town, always his runny nose, 

wiping it on his sleeve 
and another Brother, a liar or thief, 

the sort of kid who'd go to temple 
as a moneychanger. Could the Master remember 

His, judge not lest ye...?
Jesus, saddled with this family 

and still a forgiving God, had to be 
OK. But suppose He burned out on mercy--;

no compassion when his Sister seduced His chums, 
Brother bent His chisel, the thieving One

took half a drachma He'd saved
for Mary. What an incentive!

Jerusalem shouting, riding on that ass, 
the forswearing, heavy lifting, vinegar at last 

For Jesus distress was a stroll on the lake,
no worse, he'd say later, than Christmas with the folks.

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