A poem for Easter

Remember the Passion

There was no other way.
Darkness, like rolling thunder,
He took upon his heart
A stone rammed shut.

Fixed in place
The barbs of hatred,
Fury, falsehood.
Gored and cut-off.

Without the city,
Hands of kindness,
Held at a distance.
Carrying splinters.

Beaten bare,
Stripped and striped,
Tried and tried
By heartless disregard,

And yet he held his head
Like a man,
And the fire in his eyes said,
“I will die today.”

And though he had wept
Bitter tears throughout the night,
The mourning airs were dry
As he stood to take my place.