Christ on the beach

Jesus in city gun scare
—newspaper placard, Evening Argus, Brighton, Saturday 7 June 2003

Christ was in Brighton today,
wandered around the Lanes,
successfully incognito.

He went to the beach, but
Jesus cannot paddle.
He stood by the water's edge,
watched for drowning men.

A wild eyed woman drew
a gun from a knitted bag.
People nearby ducked their heads.
She shouted: 'Prepare to meet your maker.'
She did not know him. He was a man.

He looked into her eyes and smiled.
'A gun is quicker than a cross.
The entry and exit wounds
shall be my stigmata.'

'You're mad!' screamed the woman.
She turned and ran
as fast as the shingle allowed,
returning the gun to her bag.