Pantoum of the Money Changers, Karen D'Anselmi (September 2026)

Pantoum of the Money Changers

It startled us to think He’d die for you.
Forever disproportionate and strange—
He showed us righteous anger, it is true,
But on His part it was a poor exchange.
 
Forever disproportionate and strange—
We couldn’t tell if He was rich or poor,
But on His part it was a poor exchange:
He asked for nothing and we owed Him more.
 
We couldn’t tell if He was rich or poor.
We couldn’t understand Him: too sublime.
He asked for nothing and we owed Him more.
We still remember Him from time to time.
 
We couldn’t understand Him: too sublime.
He had to pay the bill when it was due.
We still remember Him from time to time.
It startled us to think He’d die for you.