The streets are crowded with pointed fingers,
open windows, scornful sneers
self-righteousness breathing past every
curtain sheer
Heads tossed back, noses high,
lips are tightly curled and wry
Eyes are squinted, scornful, wild,
darting, dancing like a lusty fire
Under shade of shadow,
dark and night
my heart is pounding, racing, aching,
slipping hastily out of sight
Endless are the alleys- cursed this
wretched winding maze
No safe place for me – no where to
escape their dreadful, daunting gaze
Down and down,
swept out through the city gates
by their stinging jeers, “how dare you
stain our Holy place.”
One against a vast universe
One in an endless void
One roaming in a haunted silence
thoughts scoring a reckless noise
One tired of straining, reaching out
for something to hold
awkwardly stumbling through this
blackened cold
Ascending rough and jagged
steep incline
Hope for friendly years long poured out
like bitter wine
Shameful memories taunt,
painful pictures flash
as knees against these craggy rocks
are dashed
The climb is over as the ruthless sun
begins its rule
breathless I stare at the city
set and shimmering like a jewel
How fair and admirable you seem
taken at a far off glance
With veil of masked perfection, silence, and
denial, you weave a master dance
But underneath the lying silken cover
lurks controlling, condemning an
unappeasable, moody lover
How I strived to curt you,
paying much too dear a cost
I played my hand at your game
but like a fool have lost
And now from limb and geist
Have gone the fight
And fitful, tardy sleep relieves
this early hour of its deceitful sight
All at once my every sinew,
muscle bound
wrenched from rest by a
nightmarish sound
The sharp and blood-thirsty cracking
of a whip
mean and menacing shouts
from a battery of mocking lips
fueled to a frenzy by their
righteous cause
slandering the heretic
for breaking their laws
Fear fraught and horror stricken
I lie low and frozen to the ground
Panic struck and heart sickened
to have so soon been found
Cringing, shrinking, wishing every past wrong
would disappear
all the while the shouting mob
draws near
Knowing all is lost
I hold my breath and wait
for the scourging blow
the culmination of their hate
❈
But what is this?
One man alone so bold
stands with outstretched arms
to bid this band of fury hold?
And what such a man is he?
My wet and wishful eyes can barely see
this foolish act which may
yet set me free
Beyond belief he stands exposed
and stays an army in its path
Suspending comprehension,
he remains composed
as he consumes their awful wrath
Bruised and battered his skin in tatters
and soaked in blood red
Taunted and tired his honor mired
a cruel and caustic crown upon his head
Solemn and sober he endures
their morbid glee
Sovereign and serene as they
nail him to a tree
Such noble assembly
does not stop to rest
they hurl their insults and abuse
they jeer and jest
hang a wooden sign
as a last assault
King of The Jews
they credit to his fault
But naked outstretched limbs
withstand the fury of disgrace
and low and tortured whisper
commands his final case.
Arms open wide
invite an enemy’s embrace
as stolen breath
requites this ignorant, lynching mob
with amazing grace,
Winding back up through
the city’s malevolent maze
I will never forget the tears,
the blood, his benevolent gaze
Love has subdued hate,
subverted violence, swallowed shame
and needing no one’s permission
I am free to do the same
