something old that fell out of a book

I remember writing it in New York (upstate) during the summer

My eyes fell upon a ruined house,

A devastated temple

The flesh was old and thin

Something dark and sweet around the mouth

but the belly swollen

The eyes were red and darting about

as if looking for a lost occupant

the spotted skin seemed stretched

to reveal a crooked and falling frame

how old?

23 was his reply.

Its time to rebuild.

Christ was it your Life 

that kept rot and decay from you

even in death.

But my composition is reversed

for in my living I have already begun to rot.

Although death may not be better

for this, my delicate skin and fragile frame.

So rebuild! Rebuild!

The words of Jesus are:

"Consumed with zeal for my house!"

Tear apart my temple and rebuild it Lord Jesus.