easter, 2017

early in the morning the tomb is open
something was broken

and yet we enter into darkness
scrabbling around for joy

everyone lights a candle
shares the flame

perhaps light is the first symbol we embrace
we all burn together

and so we gather with our friends
he is risen!
                 he is risen, indeed!

i believe this is where i say thank you

guide us now
join your hands with ours

holy saturday, 2017

this day should be solemn

shall we do the stations again today?

shall we attend tenebrae?

(quiet yourself)     (let everything that breathes be silent)

the candles are slowly extinguished

until only one remains

tenebrae means darkness

yet I always think of vertebrae

this darkness a backbone

the weight of silence

doubt some sort of foundation

from which to leap     start

how long do we ignore joy?

at the end of it all

a shout     a great drumming     thunder

my heart

my heart

my heart

utterances

fingers of speech

father, forgive them; for they don’t know what they are doing

how you often break my heart

today you shall be with me in paradise

there are problems with promises

behold your son behold your mother

this is when i feel most alone

my God, my God, why have you forsaken me

i thought that you loved me

i am thirsty

it is my only request

it is finished

and now i am full

father, into your hands i commend my spirit

it is not too much to ask

good friday, 2017

i have been awake all night

no light          no music          no sound

sometimes you must starve the soul

let us do the stations

let us reflect

step by step, moment by moment

let us refrain

from eating

let me feed on wonder

where are the passion plays?

Oberammergau is too far

my feet and hands are bloody

i want to find another way to share the story

tell it to you for hundreds of years

entreaty or declaration

let me sit here with you

it is not good for you to be alone

i wish you were not alone

maundy thursday, 2017

near the end

or the beginning

there was a meal

full of fear

full of joy

oh, dearest friends

this is my commandment

wash one another

i would kiss your feet

every hour of

every day

we gather

as you leave

take everything with you

the bells have stopped ringing

remember me

the shape of my presence