the Apostle Paul

you stood by as Stephen
was stoned
were a slight man
with a thorn
and a limp,
unattractive by all written
accounts,
unmarried

always praising God
with slashes on your back
signature of glass underneath
sunburned flesh,
demons always bruised you
your refuge was in Christ
praying, alway praying,
in Greek, in Hebrew,
Aramaic, tongues,
even English who knows?
but the words
are recorded in heaven
nomadic Paul,
walking,
shipwrecked,
content with little
content with much,
made no difference
your Glory was Christ,
boasting in the Cross

To preach Christ crucified
and no other