Your Light Arises

Far away the wings of morning lingered long in darkened hall. Wreathed in murky gloom the promise just beyond our reach and call. Then a shaft of God-borne sunlight, Morning star where night had fled broke the bounds of death and darkness Christ has risen from the dead! – CHORUS: See our death and darkness […]

Three Days

I. Death loomed large the great triumphant and eagerly its maw opened up for Jesus. II. Death slept well in silent sureness snoring sound on bones three days since eating Jesus. III. Death woke shocked, a guard embarrassed snapped like iron bars. Jesus walked away…triumphant. – – – Photo by Jonny Gios on Unsplash

Why?

Why did He die hanging there against the sky? The evil witness stood and lied, Peter swore, and trice denied. Why did Jesus die? – Why was He torn for crimes He never once had worn? The crush and pierce of razor thorns He bore amid the sins and scorns. Why was Jesus torn? – […]

The Arm of the LORD

Take heart, dear souls, you exiles of the Fall and banished from God’s presence by your sins! The Lord has stretched out His almighty arm— salvation’s Word resounding from the throne, declared in muted tones for human ears, His spitting image put to fragile flesh. The Son has taken up the Father’s will and borne […]

It Was Very Dark

it was very dark so trees reared up like monster men with mouths that gaped—in giant maws but dark. and close. and stark. – the night was starbled bright! a legion full of many men like scuttering roaches in the light and sticks and staves and might. – “Jesus come, step near.” the ringing call […]

What Was It Like?

What was it like to wash the feet of sarcastic Thomas? Or hear bombastic Peter claim, by withholding, his superiority? Or what to smell the earthy mix of sweat and dirty toes while awkward glances flitted round? Or what to wash the traitor’s feet? Did he pull back or full extend, eagerer than anyone to […]

If Only…

Long like thought, the water swirls. Deep the flow of life and death. Deep his thoughts, where Pilate sits in steaming mirror circles round. – Deep the flow of life and death. Deeper still the war inside. In steaming mirror circles round, he hears the spittled screams and shouts. – Deeper still the war inside […]

The Man

Long the war had torn the world apart with souls the casualties and souls the cause. The enemy ensconced and great in art made war the hope, and hopeless doom the laws. Silent lay the prophets’ dusty truths that glittered once like lanterns in a mine. The wise men slept in silence while the youths […]

Sunday Morning

Here at crimson dawn he prays, the sounds of morning, futures near. Beside, a honeysuckle’s curled like serpentine around a pole as far away a restless chaos rides the breeze. – Low, a patterned spokenness: rising pleas and murmured, earnest prayer. A form in quiet conversation lone. Just away, a vineyard tower, Tended by the […]

Beware the Shower

Turn your brain down in the shower or you’ll be there for an hour, and your thoughts, though bright and soaring, will not reach the water bill’s flooring nor crest the tidal waves of hate crashing as you pull in late— another battle lost in rhyme to your nemesis—Time.