Vigil

This poem was written for our monthly church poetry group at St Michael's. The themes to choose from were a Red Sky, Easter or A Waste of Time. This one touched all three.

Happy Easter to you!

Vigil

The sky turned red. At three o'clock

he breathed his last as it turned black.

It has been hours, with no light since 

My sun, my moon, my stars, my Prince.

I will stay here, though it is late 

I will wait for dawn to break 

I will wait for light to be 

I will wait until I see 

the shadows on the ground again 

Our hill, their cross, my hangéd man.

I'll wait until the sky is blue 

I will wait 'til I see you

with your body now drained of life 

how could there be a better sight 

as soon, there'll be an empty cross

and who, then, will know to mourn this loss?

The grief, the hurt, the pain, regret; 

all these things they will forget.

Time will all these things destroy 

In time, their tears will turn to joy.

Passover will turn to spring.

The paschal lamb. The wedding ring.

Spring to summer, June to December.

Year on year, who will remember?

You said we'd make the mountains move.

You said that you would be our food.

You taught about Abba above,

You spoke of grace and spoke of love.

What is the meaning if you are dead?

Three days to change the world, you said.