Sestina: Flesh And Spirit Poem by Day Williams

I
Some people live for no one but themselves
Keeping their eyes on pleasure, cash, flesh,
And while they play, God longs to be their friend,
Because their play will never satisfy
Enough, and souls call out for unity
With their Creator-God, who was crucified

II
For them, the Innocent they crucified:
He did not fit the dream they'd made themselves,
A dream that disregarded unity
Within Christ's body, for when men put flesh
Above the Spirit, they won't satisfy
Their hearts as when the Lord becomes a friend.

III
In darkest hours, they say, "I need a friend,
But I don't need this Jesus crucified.
I'll find another way to satisfy
My needs, the way my friends have pleased themselves
With drugs and potions, pleasures of the flesh,
The ecstasy enjoyed in unity

IV
In sex, those moments where the unity
Seems it will last forever with a friend,
Featherbed frolics delighting the flesh,
Then someone tells that Christ was crucified,
Which makes the lovers want to hide themselves
In shame in garden shade, dissatisfied."

V
From babe to boy to boss, dissatisfied,
The spirit in a man seeks unity
Which men and women strive to find themselves,
Diverted, distracted, delayed by friends
Who circle round and gloss Christ crucified,
Ignore the Spirit and pursue for the flesh.

VI
A man can't disassociate from flesh.
No matter how he tries to satisfy
The Spirit's call to love Him crucified,
No matter how he strives for unity,
The flesh will intervene to make a friend
And enemy. Men can't control themselves.

Envoi
For they themselves, trapped in pursuit of flesh,
Deceived by friends, would find they're satisfied
In unity with God, Christ crucified.