The Bench

The Bench at Saint-RemybyKevin Book-SatterleeThe gnarled, twisted arm of the long-overgrown tree; the rigid, knotted musclesof the one providing shade and rest.the Christ hung on the smooth-scarred planksof a tree that once shaded the Roman soldieror perhaps a pair of Jewish loversacting out Solomon’s song.under the weary tree, ancient,its bark wrinkles under the pressure of timeand earthly