Trompe L’Oeil

I really love your work
the way it is nailed by its wrists
to a cross
I mean to say
the way it gushes from nothingness
but words make a meal of me
chomp chomp
and isn’t it Jesus
everybody is buzzing about
the way he was not wearing
a microphone
and did not own a camera
to self-record the curtaining
of himself
as he knew himself
tremoring up there on the grain
how did he wait for it
I cannot imagine
I can only make a small map
of my fingerprints
which are your fingerprints
and a roof
which is a human roof
and tell you
how good it is
to have a roof
before the sky.

—Melissa Broder is the author of the poetry collection When You Say One Thing but Mean Your Mother (Ampersand Books).

Copyright © 2011 by the author or Christianity Today/Books & Culture magazine.Click here for reprint information on Books & Culture.

Also in this issue

Books & Culture was a bimonthly review that engaged the contemporary world from a Christian perspective. Every issue of Books & Culture contained in-depth reviews of books that merit critical attention, as well as shorter notices of significant new titles. It was published six times a year by Christianity Today from 1995 to 2016.

Our Latest

Wonderology

Cosmic Plinko

Are we here by chance?

News

Churches Try Drones and Skydiving Bunnies for Easter Outreach

“We want to make it about Jesus and getting people excited about the Easter season and going to church somewhere.”

The Just Life with Benjamin Watson

Tony Dungy: What It Costs to Stand for Your Faith

Speaking up for the value of all life in the face of criticism.

The Evangelical Roots of North Korea’s Kim Family

Q&A with Jonathan Cheng on how the Christian gospel can be twisted for political aims.

SCOTUS Ruling on ‘Conversion Therapy’ Is a Win for Christians

This week’s Chiles v. Salazar ruling allows counselors freedom to serve their clients in the ways they see fit.

From Our Community

A Renewed Subscription and a Broadened Perspective

Hannah Glad

How one Texan lawyer found himself reading CT again and supporting the One Kingdom Campaign.

Public Theology Project

Easter Is Not a Zombie Story

Jesus joined us in death—and defeated it.

What $18 Would Get You

In 1979, CT investigated deceptive Christians, made the case for psychology, and watched Islam with concern.

addApple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseellipseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squarefolderGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastprintremoveRSSRSSSaveSavesaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube