The Witness

The Witness

....of course their brother never would discuss

What he had known in those four days and nights.

His lips were sealed. He'd once call hypocrites:

'White-washed sepulchres rank with rottenness,'

But in his case, although he stank, his flesh

Did not decay. His sisters were confused

And not sure what to feel. Had they been used?

Could suffering be vanquished with a wish?

Now he must die again, as must we all.

The blackness of the tomb, although deferred,

Awaits. Next time there'll be no magic word,

No death-disturbing call, no miracle.

Distressed, I watched them roll away the stone

And wondered as he groped towards the sun.

Comments: 11

Purrrrrrrrrrr~Genki dashite~Nantoka naru-yo! S. Apr 16, 2009, 4:04pm EDT

At once I saw the mesmerizing aspect of a crown of thorns reaching for the sun~but who wears the crown~I could lean it into the christ ressurection or darker elemental days of darker beings~touching bones poetic~

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Julie (there will always be a rainbow) G. Apr 16, 2009, 4:07pm EDT

Mike, sometimes you leave me in wonder... this is one of those times. I'd love to know the "story" and yet it would make this no more powerful.

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Nancy Biri Apr 16, 2009, 4:08pm EDT

Nice

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Mike Ellwood Apr 16, 2009, 4:11pm EDT

The story is that of Lazarus of Bethany, Julie. His sisters were Mary and Martha.

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Sheila Deeth Apr 16, 2009, 4:16pm EDT

Beautifully told, and thought provoking. Nice one Mike.

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Susan Budig Apr 16, 2009, 4:51pm EDT

Mike, what I notice about these Biblical poems is that your POV is not smothered by the miracle of Christ, but by the reality of Life, which is a miracle.

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