Judas Ambiguus
William Tobias Straney
“Toward heaven…”
—Robert Frost, “Birches”
When I am not good for my word
And touch upon the cheek of truth
The likeness of a kiss,
I think of Judas, defender of the poor,
Who ascended not flaming chariot clouds
(As Elijah did, taking them in his stride)
Nor strode the earth like a man,
But climbed up a tree,
Threw himself down, and stopped
Somewhere in-between.