they glorified the river
he dissolved himself into
as if it had been a baptism
or some devotion other than
his flesh to the flora.
(Past-tense verbs will be used for his name)

the entitled themselves to the stolen spirits
in his dorm and
diluted some at the Sunday service for the kids.
they said his spirit was with Jesus,
stolen because he too made the water look like wine.
(Past-tense verbs will be used for His name)

the name of the drink will never change the substance.
the red in the sink won’t change the color of the oceans.

the river will freeze
the alcohol will be pissed away
his sheets will be sold at a church garage sale
and they will preach his story to kids gone astray.
(they will preach His story to kids gone astray.)