On the road from Bethany
========================

* Richard Bronson

> “A Harley Road King, definitely the bike Jesus would ride …”
> 
> — Father Mark Giordani, at the blessing of the bikes, *The New York Times*
> Christmas Eve, I had the graveyard shift.
> 
> Rhythmic thump of litter wheels rushing
> 
> down the hall; they’d brought him in
> 
> red lights flashing —
> 
> a big guy, leather clad,
> 
> he’d taken a bad spill on his bike.

> We cut off his torn jeans, his jacket
> 
> that bore the name *Judas* in bold script.
> 
> Right tib–fib, left wrist, rib fractures —
> 
> possible flail chest.
> 
> Semiconscious, he opened his eyes,
> 
> looked up at me.

> “On Tuscan roads towards Rome — *Vincents*, *Hondas*, *Harleys*,
> 
> Jesus in the lead.
> 
> Then four abreast we roared
> 
> past Castel Sant’ Angelo, gathered
> 
> by St. Peter’s Holy Door.”

> “I saw Jerusalem, the Temple once again,
> 
> the Pharisees arrayed against him,
> 
> Gethsemane, then Golgotha.

> “Know where you are?” I said. “What happened?”

> “Jesus popped a wheelie, raised a fist.
> 
> *Here is a people that pays lip service,*
> 
> *but their minds are far removed from me!*”

> He coughed, spat up blood,
> 
> began to desaturate.
> 
> I tubed him.

![Figure1](http://www.cmaj.ca/https://www.cmaj.ca/content/cmaj/187/18/1365/F1.medium.gif)

[Figure1](http://www.cmaj.ca/content/187/18/1365/F1)

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