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Open Poetry #7
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Calvary" (Repost) The Reason for the Season
| Open Poetry #7 |
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Calvary" (Repost) The Reason for the Season |
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John Yaws Senior Member
since 1999-10-09
Posts 860Texas 
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Calvary by John R. Yaws The rising sun shone brightly, o'er Mount Olives wooded crest, Another day in Israel, not much different than the rest. "There's to be a crucifixion," my commander said to me, "Those two thieves we have in prison, and some Jew from Galilee." We're commanded now to scourge Him, and the blood and flesh do fly, Through lips, both crushed and bleeding, He has uttered not a cry. Though His back is cut to ribbons, and His face is bruised and torn, In our eyes He found no pity, as we crowned His head with thorns. How I hate to see Barrabas, that rebellious, mur'drous scum, Cheat justice in the nick of time, his day had finally come. But the governor has ordered, by some fickle turn of fate, The Nazarene to take his place, the whole crowd seems to hate. Though His back is torn and bloody, we have all seen blood before, We the pride of Caesar's legions, have all seen our share of gore. As the cross drops on His shoulder, from His lips I hear a groan, But the crowd has shown no pity, the assemblage moves on. On the road up to Golgotha, he fell beneath the load, We compelled a man from Cyrene, who was standing by the road, To bear His cross up Cal'vry, to lay it on the ground, We spreadeagled Jesus on it, as the scoffers gathered round. With a mallet and some rusty nails, we pierced His feet and hands, And then we raised the crosses at our officer's commands. Into holes prepared beforehand, we dropped them with a thud. As the two thieves cried and cursed us we were splattered by the blood. We parted there His garments; with their many blood stained spots, I also claimed His vesture, for I won it casting lots. The thieves they railed upon Him, with the jeering, mocking crowd, I think the priests were worst of all, their scornful taunts rang loud. "So you will build the temple? In the short span of three days? Why, six and forty years went by the last time it was raised! You, who fed the multitudes, caused blinded eyes to see, Come down, and prove yourself to us, if God, your Father be!" The thieves railed on Him likewise; "Come down from the tree! If God's indeed your Father, save yourself and us with thee!" One thief grew strangely silent, then in a different tone Cried, "Lord, wilt thou remember me when Thou art on Thy throne?" The Jew upon the middle cross, gazed tenderly his way, Then whispered through His thirst-parched lips I say to thee, Today.. Today, my friend, you'll be with me," and then He bowed His head, "Forgive them for their ignorance...", I think is what He said. Right on the stroke of midday, our hearts near failed with fright, The noon sun ceased it's shining, the day grew black as night; The silence on the hillside was broke by shrieks of fear As if the end of time had come, and Judgement Day was here. For a space of three long hours, we couldn't see a thing, As The Light, which lighteth every man, was suffering death's sting. Then at the evening sacrifice, they heard a dreadful wail, A priest ran from the temple, crying out, "The veil, the veil!" That veil within the temple, once a year was entered in, Then only by the High Priest to intercede for men; From top to bottom it was ripped, "as by an unseen hand", As though ‘twere saying, "Enter", to each and every man. Rocks were rent as by an earthquake, tombs were opened to the sun, Which once again was shining, for the darkness now was done. When we gazed upon the crosses, the Nazarene was dead, We looked on with amazement, for just now, He loudly said: "It is finished!" Then said something else, as I spoke to the men, It was something 'bout His Spirit, and "..into your Hands commend." Our commander's face grew somber what he said next, sounded odd, Staring at the Jew, he spoke, "He was the Son of God." Stranger things were yet to follow, tales of dead which came to life, And the garden tomb found empty, there were rumors running rife! But of all the things which happened, the one I found most strange, Was our leader's transformation, and the way his life was changed! [This message has been edited by Gunslinger (edited 04-23-2000).] |
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| © Copyright 2000 John R. Yaws - All Rights Reserved | |||
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WhtDove Member Rara Avis
since 1999-07-22
Posts 9245Illinois |
GS this is just my kind of thing! You've described an awesome scene of our Lord here! Blows me away to think someone could love us so much they'd endure things like and voluntarily! God bless you and Happy Easter! |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
Gunslinger, I thank you, sir. This has been and will continue to be one of the best poems I have ever had the opportunity to read. A very happy Easter wish to you and yours..... |
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Denise
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-08-22
Posts 22648 |
This poem is a blessing, Gunslinger. Thanks for reposting it today. It is one of my favorites of yours. Happy Easter to you and yours!  Denise |
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LoveBug
Moderator
Member Elite
since 2000-01-08
Posts 4697 |
This is a beautiful description of what He did for us... I enjoyed it much! Happy Easter! "We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars." -Oscar Wilde |
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Marge Tindal
since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384Florida's Foreverly Shores |
Slinger~ Easter Day may be over ... but this tale will linger in my memory forever. Thank you so very much for the work that went into it. It is powerful. ~*Marge*~ ~*The pen of the poet never runs out of ink, as long as we breathe.*~ noles1@totcon.com |
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wayoutwalt Member Elite
since 1999-06-22
Posts 4870TEXAS (it's all big) |
gunslinger this was awesome i didnt think i'd make it through seeing its length and my low attention span but i was wanting more at the end...great job |
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JamesMichael Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336Kapolei, Hawaii, USA |
Very interesting and touching...James |
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Danny Holloway Member Elite
since 2000-01-15
Posts 2034Tulsa, OK |
~~wonderful writing~~~from an excellent writer~~~ |
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