A Cross to Bear
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Jerusalem lounged luminescent below me,
sprawling vision glowing orange, red, and gold
in a setting sun. Tranquil, peaceful, oblivious.
Weary with steadfast intent, sleep came swiftly
but soon I stirred to shouting, chanting crowds
gathering outside Pilate’s palace,
watching soldiers bait, batter, beat a human form,
bloodied being, almost unrecognisable. I knew him.
It was Jesus, Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus, the new rabbi
in the temple. Captivated by his twofold message:
love God, love neighbour. I had come a long way
to hear more of his teaching, maybe become a disciple.
I watched as he bore his cross flanked by Roman guards,
a man, utterly broken. With each stumbling step, my heart wept
at this sorry street thronged with crowds baying for blood.
The pitiful procession moved solemnly towards Calvary.
I fought my way through hordes chanting: “Crucify him!”
I grabbed the cross and clung onto it with all my strength.
Lifting his head towards me, Jesus whispered my name:
Simon of Cyrene. I shall never forget how his eyes
penetrated mine with a gaze so intense,
it pierced my soul.
As Good Friday looms – a name that feels like a misnomer, yet oddly isn’t – you may wish to pause and reflect on the sacrifice of Jesus. These other pieces may help you on your journey.
- Pilate’s Calvary – Poetry for Good Friday
- Why Not Horses? – A Poem
- It’s Jesus Or Your Car – Personal Christain Faith Essay
- How an Irreverent Comedy, a Stack of Books, and One Woman Helped Save My Christian Sanity
- I Will Answer “Yes” – Personal Christian Faith Journey Essay
- How Never Doubting Christian Dogma Nearly Ruined My Life and Why I’m Grateful to Have Doubts
- Be Still – Uplifting Poetry
Susan Carberry
Susan lives in NW London. Her poems are an eclectic mix of social commentary, the natural world, the human condition, humour, and her deep faith in God, and they appear in several anthologies. She recently published her own poetry booklet, Eternal Ephemera. Susan is a Poet in Residence to the gardeners of Roundwood Park. She reads her work for events at the City Literature Institute, and has begun writing flash fiction and short stories. She’s a familiar figure in her local cafes and restaurants, where she sits with a coffee and writes, gaining inspiration from the world around her.
Susan has participated in several recorded readings with others. Find them on You-Tube as an Anthology and Late Line productions.
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