The Revelation of John

By L.M. Shearer

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The sun caught each fiber, sparkling
clean curled wool, white as clouds,
translucent as a drift of snow
that covered everything, that forgave
every imperfection in the landscape.

The fire was hot, and it drew
the eyes to it, blackened the sand
beneath it, turned the skin red who
came near it, to be warmed by it.

The roar of the ocean was a heartbeat
in the ears, was breath leaving the lungs,
was a waterfall consuming every sound.

Seven flaming stars spread like cards
on a velvet table, strewn like seven
bright diamonds on a jeweler’s bench.

The sun bright in summer, and the body
craved it, but the eyes could not look at it,
highest and hottest summer sun, it left
no shadows, no shade under it.

John saw this, he saw all of it
within one man, and in that sight
lest he die, fell down before his feet
as one already dead.

And the Son-of-Man like-snow
like-fire like-stars
like-ocean like-burning-sun
said “Fear not”

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L.M. Shearer is a high school and Sunday school teacher from the beautiful Pacific Northwest, USA. She volunteers as a Court Appointed Special Advocate, studies theology in her spare time and has occasionally written poems on post-it notes at work.