I MAKE MY LOVER WATCH CYNTHIA ERIVO IN JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR LIVE AT THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL

by juj e lepe

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never have i felt so close to God 
as watching Cynthia-Jesus plead 
in the garden of Gethsemane: 

that lonesome hour, hope 
deplete, night 
blooming jasmine mouth 
kissing Los Angeles, the cherubs 
fast asleep 

Have to know, I have to know, my God 
Have to know, I have to know, my God 

the ache of—yes 
—death, 
you could practically hear the drum 

hung on the question, 
Why, why should I die? 
Why, why should I die? 

my love rubs almond oil into the scratches 
coursing rivulets up my spine 

i am holding the phone 
too close to our faces 

yesterday, tomorrow, today 
death caught on screen 
christ-like lovers on the scene 

they offer their voices to the chorus to sing:

Take me now, 
before I change my mind

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juj e lepe is a poet and educator from Stockton, California. Their work has been featured or is forthcoming in Ninth Letter, The Rumpus, Poetry Northwest, and elsewhere. juj holds an MFA in Poetry from UW Madison. They live and write in the Midwest.