Poems for a Week of Special Solemnity

The Great Week now begins. Over the years, I have found rational prose unable to capture the meaning of the Triduum or great three days leading up to Easter. The following are feeble attempts to capture in poetic form meaning that eludes all attempts at theological explanations.

Maundy Pedicure

Oh, soothing, cleansing, refreshing surprise
When Jesus took basin, donned deacon’s garb,
And made of the upper dining room
A salon for humble, holy pedicures!

“Not my feet, Lord, not my feet,”
Protested proud, self-protective Peter
But soon even the hardened Rock unsandaled
Feet, hands and heart for sacramental bathing.

“Love one another,” commanded holy foot-washer
“As I have loved you, bunions and all!”
Now your feet are ready for the death and life dance—
Do it often, in remembrance of me.

Just Another Friday

Trains run on time
Doctors operate, lawyers litigate
Potato chip factories spew out billions
Just another Friday . . .

Soldiers march on the hunt
Stockbrokers keep going for broke
And truly broken is a jilted lover’s heart
Just another Friday . . .

On a hill outside Jerusalem
A man hangs dying on a cruel cross
Strangely he utters, “Father, forgive them!”
Just another Friday . . .

Holy Saturday

Now comes the quiet after the tsunami
It is indeed finished, the suffering ended.

Hope died too at Good Friday’s crossing;
That the even greater loss than the man.
We wait now, no longer with expectation;
Yet comes a feeling—there could be more . . .