Crucifixion

Crucifixion.

The day is dark and darker grows the night,

For night has come before the day has passed;

A mother dares to look on such a sight,

Her hanging, nailed son has breathed His last.

In front of her the tree is lonely, flanked

By others of the same, where they are ranked

Bearing the bodies of two condemned thieves.

They rant against their fate and taunt the Son.

One speaks in torment but there’s one believes

An innocent hangs here. What has He done?

[Into a timeless warp of space there hangs

Eternity and all eternal Love.

Of sorrow gone the solid silence sings

Casting torn veils to the heavens above.

He bleeds and dies, we weep and hopeless wait,

And wonder if this cross can be the gate?]

The soldiers wile away the weary wait

Beneath the cross by casting careless dice.

Their pay they risk but what about His fate?

They care not; let the judgement passed suffice.

Divide His clothes to augment their meagre pay,

But not the seamless robe – they let that stay.

To speed their death (for day soon breathes its last)

One checks and breaks the legs of the two thieves

But the blessed spirit now has sighed and passed;

Spear pierces flesh; the observing guard believes!

Reach down this battered body from the cross;

Reach down the bruised and rough torn flesh of God;

Reach down the Christ and, Mother, hold your loss:

And yet she knows this moment is for good.

Now all mankind breathless awaits first light,

The Easter sunrise banishing death’s dark night!

[Buried is the moment and the death

Of this expression of eternal love;

The sorrowing mother holds her final breath

And weeps her doloured tears to heaven above.

Now all must wait and waiting, all endure –

To wait and hope Love’s resurrection’s sure!]