The world has been turned upside down For at midday in our ancient town Shadows dawn and daylight fade Now darkness chases the light away. There is no moon or sun in sky. No celestial stars on high. A curtain of black so thick and daunting Surely next the dead’ll be haunting. What caused this strangeness to occur? The priests will certainly know for sure. We go to the place where they now gather To glean the answers to these dim matters. It’s up the hill outside the city, But look, three men, oh what a pity. They’re being crucified by men of might Centurion’s torches cover hill in light. We see the men in priestly cloth Enraged with shouts and mouths a froth. But as we crest the dome of the hill, Shaking, panic, and cries so shrill; Meet our ears as the earth did rumble And all around people fall and stumble. Some there gathered make for the wall. Torches extinguish as the soldiers fall. We beheld and heard noise from above. One of the men on the cross thereof; Heaving, speaking, and asking for drink. They provide him with sour wine I think. He lifts his head and with loud cry Shouts, “Eloi Eloi, Lama Sabachthani?” Some men think he calls to Elijah, Maybe he is shouting to Jehovah-Jireh, Who bid the patriarch to bind his son. And after the knife-stroke had begun, Stopped his hand with gentle voice For He saw the man made the choice To obey when all hope seemed lost; He provided a ram for Issac’s cost. But now in silence I stand and stare Dismally at the unfolding nightmare, For the light returned to the shadow lands And the man on the cross with his stretched hands Raised his voice for all to hear it. Cried, “It’s FINISHED, Father take my spirit.”
If you would like to receive email updates when I post new poems or stories, enter your email in the box below and then click/press the subscribe button.
Thoughts from the Silent Planet 