The Pilgrims Poem

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Salute.

If only we had understood the justifications

I wouldn't be composing these stanzas here 

in old Jerusalem

If only we had realized all those painful tragic answers  

To come

We would have stopped them from happening 

And took no chances 

At the very beginning 

 

If only we knew this day would be returning 

We would have tried to stop it before our hearts started burning

But we never saw it coming 

And never disputed your stories saying so

Of which there were plenty

We believed we were to be together forevermore 

To walk hand in hand 

In all weathers

We never felt deserted 

Even though it felt 

You were always away 

Praying or preaching 

But in the process of living

Our hearts gave up and cried

When on that wooden cross 

Before us

All our hopes of forgiveness  

And absolution 

Just looked us in the eyes

Stopped breathing and quietly died

As we placed you in the tomb with Joseph 

And rolled forth that heavy stone

It felt to some 

As though we'd never met

But to us who really knew you

Our hearts can never forget

As I watched some cry and express hate for our Lord's fate 

I too despised of what I'd become 

Of late

I wished I'd had more time with you

To learn more as I laid you in that tomb

I thought you were taken from us and sent so far away 

To soon

But the rumors say you've risen

Oh, how happy we all are that you escaped deaths cold prison 

We all remembered when you said you wouldn't leave

That if in me, you do believe and if we didn't 

What would this world be like 

If you wouldn't in our hearts 

Still be living

Well, that's now all in the past 

As we gather here 

On this beautiful Sunday

To pray in these moments for forgiveness of all our earthly sins 

In this hidden backroom 

Here in Jerusalem

To fall in love with faith once more now you've risen from the tomb

A dark place where we left you a few days ago 

To lay all alone

We hope the world of the future sees the truth

For to truly believe you don't need any proof

For faith is a delicate thing

Don't just look for it in well-written books or scripture

Don't look for it at night or in day

Don't let it weep and recede or wither and just walk away 

Just believe in something greater

It's how he'll find you and reintroduce you to your maker

For as Nicodemus was once asked.

"How can a man be born when he is old?"

"Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!"

You answered, 

"I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.

Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit."

So to all you readers who may read this in the near future 

Just listen for the Almighty's great voice 

And with faith in something greater than anything 

You could possibly comprehend

You'll know in your heart it's him 

If you're just open to hearing it 

Just pray 

Now and again

And always end with a smile 

And an almighty Amen

(C)

Copyright John Duffy