March 26, 2012 Holy Season

Easter, called Holy Season is upon us, so I thought I would share some of my poems born of the season.

Redemption


A tiny child’s heart beats
For the first time
In the chill air of dusk,
Beating away the seconds,
Redemption
Flowing through
His veins.

His mother cradles Him
Swaddles Him in lengths
Of fine linen.
Laying Him in a manger,
She kneels beside Him
In wonder,
Caressing His brow.

And the child grew
And waxed strong
In spirit
Filled with wisdom
And the grace of God
Was upon Him.

A mother’s heart beats faster.
Tears course down her cheeks
For the child she cannot find.
The words of Anna
A sword shall pierce
Thy own soul also
Sing a dirge
She is not ready to hear.

A boy sits in the temple
About His Father’s business,
Yet wounded by the pain
He hears in His mother’s voice.
Joseph and I
Out of our mind
With grief,
Searching for you.

The boy of calloused hands
Grows into a Man
Of strange charisma,
The Carpenter Messiah
Called to a wedding,
A last grand celebration
To be shared with His
Mother who had pondered
These things in her heart.

Redemption flows through
His veins, His heart
Broken, His blood
Spills out, an offering
A payment in full
Buying back the souls
Of men.

The wood of a manger
Exchanged for the wood
Of a cross.
The linen swaddling clothes
Of the Infant exchanged for the
Linen grave clothes of the
Redeemer. Sin’s debt
Marked in red
Canceled.

A tiny child’s heart beats
For the first time,
Beating away the seconds
Of redemption
Flowing through
His veins, a warmth
Waiting to be spilled out.