poetry

Joseph O'Brien
Maritime

Joseph O'Brien
Per Annum

Anders O.F. Hendrickson
Nor Washed Away by the Flood

Michael Lee Johnson
Twist My Words

Roger Mitchell
Holy Matrimony

Roger Mitchell
This Is Only A Test

Leah Acosta
The Same

Eve Tushnet
Story Without a Name

Amanda Glass
Slim

Abigail Swift
Still to See

Mike Schorsch
Well

Br. Ignatius Peacher, O. Cist.
Chipping Sparrow

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The Same
It is the same.
The twisted strands . . . 
	of barbed wire, flesh now torn
	of plaited curls, freshly shorn
	of woven briars, crown of thorn.
The bruised reed . . . 
	freely blowing, sown in the distant sod
	trampled underfoot, by pris'ners heavy trod
	plucked, unbroken in the Son of God.
The laden hand . . . 
	wielding power, such cruelty spent beyond belief
	wielding shovels, forced to submit without reprieve
	wielding the Cross, the nail now ready to receive.
The parched lips . . . 
	truth-starved, glutted pow'r corrupts
	thirst not slaked, the bitter cup
	wine with hyssop, lifted up.
The bowed head . . . 
	The feral feeding, sanguine hate
	Back broken from the scapegoat weight.
	Lamb’s sacrifice, now consummate.
Yesterday, today, forever.
He Is the same.

--Leah Acosta

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Lealani Mae (Leah) Acosta is a first-year neurology resident at the University of Virginia Health System.