poetry

Sercus Sanctus

The Order of the Dung Beetle

The Order of the Dung Beetle, 2022 linocut

The Order of the Dung Beetle Sticker

v

my good friend Seth Wieck wrote this poem

Stercus Sanctus

For Jack

Gavel gather our Order of the Dung Beetle.

Convene the turd rollers who work the earth’s treadle.

Six-footed levers reciprocate their treasures—

outcast,fall off and waste—our disgust, their pleasures

in spheres composed of compost, rumen, and seed germ,

chewed straw rechewed and strewn clear of lofted tails.

Firmpellets on which they dance and feed their lowlyyoung.

Dung Beetle priests atone, make our shit holy.

Both the print and the sticker are available at b aumwerkshop.com

Seth Wieck’s work can be read and purchased at s ethweick.com

Holy, the Lesser Saints

holy, the lesser saints35

the lesser saints

holy, the lesser saints06

weave their quiet

holy, the lesser saints43

agile stories

holy, the lesser saints09

amongst the lives

holy, the lesser saints05

of greater lights

holy, the lesser saints27

holy, the lesser saints

holy, the lesser saints03

the color

holy, the lesser saints07

upon their brows

holy, the lesser saints48

they do not cry out

holy, the lesser saints04

they do not turn

holy, the lesser saints01

hearts raised like rafters

holy, the lesser saints02

heavenward

holy, the lesser saints15

forever orbiting

holy, the lesser saints12

tireless in quest

holy, the lesser saints18

the sphere of your glory

holy, the lesser saints10

to enter and remain

holy, the lesser saints08

bring newer life

holy, the lesser saints29

from ancient tribes

holy, the lesser saints39

all in anticipation

holy, the lesser saints14

groaning in the yearning

holy, the lesser saints17

their own eternal ribbon voice

holy, the lesser saints22

those who have ears…

holy, the lesser saints26

let them hear

holy, the lesser saints11

holy, the lesser saints

holy, the lesser saints24

bring your longing

holy, the lesser saints20

bring your capacity

holy, the lesser saints28

for fullness

holy, the lesser saints40

in the life of the soil

holy, the lesser saints34

countless prophets

holy, the lesser saints45

behold and know

holy, the lesser saints33

see and have understanding

holy, the lesser saints21

awaken, members of wholeness

holy, the lesser saints23

you are provision

holy, the lesser saints25

you are appointed

holy, the lesser saints30

little lights, you are His

holy, the lesser saints32

lesser saints

holy, the lesser saints36

holding up mountains

holy, the lesser saints13

echoes of distant voice

holy, the lesser saints31

priests of the eternal present

holy, the lesser saints47

fierce and strange

holy, the lesser saints37

are the quiet ones

holy, the lesser saints42

in silent witness

holy, the lesser saints19

givers of the heart of God

holy, the lesser saints41

receiving and giving from the heart of God

holy, the lesser saints46

celebrating mystery in plain-ness

holy, the lesser saints44

in infinite variety and order

holy, the lesser saints49

teach the spiritual truths of rest and labor

holy, the lesser saints16

sweat and awe

holy, the lesser saints38

all from silent knees and horns

holy, the lesser saints50

in the unending world, glory will be known forever

The Eternal Present

eternal present07

Summer waxing

eternal present26

into eternal presence

eternal present12

ancient thunder quivers along the crust

eternal present04

twinning amongst and toppling titans

eternal present14

the smallest witnesses quiet as their gaze

eternal present24

oldest of fault lines wrought with terror for men

eternal present35

Ragnarok not yet come to cleave a line between

eternal present13

the fruits of Eden and the curse

eternal present23

brothers old as Abel and Cain

eternal present01

approach the day with a steady gate

eternal present33

mend the tack and the linkage

eternal present30

the work the day is ready to hand

eternal present19

unfold unfold great sheets unfold

eternal present27

the heavens rain diamonds from the mouth of God

eternal present22

the rye bends, the wheat and barley bend, the corn the teff bend low, below

eternal present20

rust and blood speak and spin

eternal present16

the day is new again

eternal present17

tension speaks in unheard frequencies

eternal present06

felt, like order drawn from skeins of chaos

eternal present25

a fragment of destiny

eternal present11

order from a mystic mind

eternal present10

elder memories

eternal present32

ancient fodder, best fodder

eternal present03

tools for the telling of

eternal present21

tools for the remembering of

eternal present31

the days when Noah stored up faith

eternal present09

quieted his family with peace

eternal present05

as the rim of the earth spilled over

eternal present28

rolling stones

eternal present29

adjoining man with the presence

eternal present36

again, Noah enters day

eternal present34

moored, listening

eternal present18

breathing presence in

eternal present02

wrested in grace

eternal present15

see how the earth remembers differently

eternal present08

manifest ancient eternal presence