Blood of the Lamb

By Marita Garin / August 1, 1981

This article originally appeared in Southern Exposure Vol. 9 No. 2, "Festival: Celebrating Southern Literature." Find more from that issue here.

Lester took the serpent from the box 

before I was ready.

 

Praise the Lord 

 

Hung there loose like a rope, 

then turned stiff. 

Lester handed it over. 

 

Praise God 

 

It jerked. I held on, 

but I didn’t have the spirit yet, Lord.

 

Hallelujah to Glory 

 

Lester was speaking in tongues, 

but nothing flowed through my hands. 

They were still cold. 

 

Oh Lord, up out of skin 

 

It struck. I held on as long 

as I could. Blood ran down my cheek. 

 

Praise be to God 

 

I knew what was meant.

I wasn’t ready, Lord 

but I came on, just as I am.

 

 

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