Jesus
I kneeled to ask
a word from you.
Something about the lofty
drama of your crucifixion –
eclipsed by
echo-empty tomb
in morning hushed garden
hallelujah angel song
purest waxen lilies exulting
in resurrection light.
Instead
you gave hard sayings
about love of neighbour
self-renunciation –
uncovered the stinking rags
of my pretensions.
You mentioned dirty feet
slivers tears betrayal
bruises on the Calvary road
nailed death on a bloody post.
On a chilly lakeshore morning
your probing eyes asked
Do you love me?
by Esther Regehr
Feb. 21, 1946–Sept. 25, 2012
reprinted from MB Herald, Vol. 42, No. 04, Mar. 21, 2003
1 comment
It is wonderful to see the poem of our dear friend Esther Regehr, “Nailed Death” featured on the MB Herld website. It is a very moving poem, to say the least. Esther lost her battle with cancer last Sept but has left us a wonderful legacy in her thoughtful, insightful and excellent poetry.