The Stigmata

The Stigmata

Afterwards the others said 
It was just like him
To say nothing

They remembered that time
He almost died
Because he didn't tell anyone 
How sick he was
They even administered last rites
Second-to-last
He joked afterwards

Afterwards it made sense why
He all of a sudden started
Wearing gloves in summer
He claimed it was because of poison oak
When afterwards one of the brothers
Said So you lied
He said No I didn’t 
I didn't get it
Did I?

Then there was the way
He walked like a man
Walking on coals

Of course no one saw his side
Or noticed that
He slept only on his left

Until the day he decided
He couldn’t hide it anymore
And showed one brother
Who told another
Who told another
Until the whole monastery knew

Then they took him
Down to the infirmary
Though there was no need to

The wounds weren’t infected
They smelled 
Like flowers
Growing out of his hands