Spanish Christ, of wood, of grace

flamenco dancing upon the cross

faith's fire-lights playing at your feet

how bent and twisted you've become

in writing pains' obedience to God

to teach us mortal ones a song of hope

Funky sweat drips down upon the floor

with blood stains mingling from your pores

so hard you dance beneath the sun

with Aband'ment's music as the score.

We sense not the freedom in your call

the grace had in dancing 'pon the cross

Our songs and dance take different turns

in pains and wounds in search of joy.

We, often, kill the spirits of our love

with spirits that drown the Spirit of your love.

But dance we must and dance we will

while unto song you invite us sing

So, dance on, master of the steps of life

reaching out, coaxing us from your cross

to dance with you upon its floor

to dance with freedom round the land

and dance in hope 'pon Mother Earth

to dance to rising to eternal life

*God's willingness to participate in history is still little understood.  In some sense, as the Irish nuns quite properly taught us, it redeems history.  It redeems our bodies, and it redeems creation. Everything becomes holy; everything becomes blessed.  But at the same time, God is willing to become contaminated in our history, to become brown with us.  I find this quite moving.

-Richard Rodriguez