Holy Saturday 2009

Holy Saturday 2009
By Jonathan Bennett


Fresh in my mind that last, loud exclamation
Of pain as the sword pierced my heart wounding me.
So deep, so deep that I cannot be the same
Even if I see him in the light of morning.


Fresh in my mind that last, loud exclamation
Of fear as my words reached my ears, deafn'ing me.
So loud, so loud that I cannot be the same
Even if I could say "I love you" again.


Fresh in my mind that last, loud exclamation
Of rage as I washed my hands of the moment.
So cold, so cold that I cannot be the same
Even if I knew his innocence was feigned.


Fresh in my mind that last, loud exclamation
Of greeting as I betrayed him in the night.
So quick, so quick I cannot be the same
Even if I were resurrected with him.


Fresh in my mind that first soft, exclamation
Of seeing him standing there in the dawn light.
So bright, so bright I cannot be the same
Even if I did not know I'd see him again.

Wisdom

Wisdom
by Jonathan Bennett


Come. Come in on wind, come in upon fire,
through locked door—my long-abandoned-gateway—
and draw close to let your breath fall on me.
Come and penetrate me; come enter me.


Take. Take me within your depths where these twins
wrestle, and peace clings at its sibling's heel
that for blindness I cannot tell apart.
Take hold and guide 'tween stillness and action.


Share. Share this journey that spreads out ahead,
wond'ring which child before should be our guide:
down the roads that call for contemplation,
and those that cry for transfiguration.

Finished

Finished
By Jonathan Bennett


The holy veil tore down its center,
But they sewed it, hiding the large rent.
And maybe they hid the wise things there
To keep them out of the children's hands.
Leaving us confused and at a loss
Except to see Your work as half-done.


The blind remain blind and the deaf deaf;
Though, there's a gadget that fakes Your touch.
The lame walk but only with crutches,
Last year's dead refuse to draw new breath,
And the poor have yet to hear good news.
Are you sure you didn't leave too soon?

Thirst

Thirst
By Jonathan Bennett

And I find myself thinking of the wine
At the last that was better than the first.
The thought of it should be bitter to me
But I remember only its sweetness,
Just as I remember the company
Gathered so close, though they've scattered from me.
And if the water was before me now
I'd transubstantiate it with my blood
And call for toasts at this: my wedding feast.
Today I die as one to become one,
And no one, here nor There, can make us two.
Yes in this last moment before we wed
Bring out the new wineskins because I thirst!

Awe

Awe
By Jonathan Bennett

Listen for the sound of that one voice crying for
Us to realize our lover, wrestler, friend, and foe
Who calls us to wonder that we are worth a thought
Even when we mortals are not mindful of them.

Look through eyes of one who cannot help seeing how
Precious we, the sparrow, fig tree, our neighbor are
Even as we price them, sell them in the market
Ignorant that we pay in currency of stars.

Feel the embrace of wind on naked flesh alone
While hands that touch and lips that kiss give a wide berth
As they turn their heads and stop their ears to your cries
Of mad passion's ecstasy from Spirit's rapture.