Hello and greetings, dear digital friends!
For those of you of faith, may I extend a Happy Easter, Passover, and Ramadan to you. I’m sure I may have inadvertently missed a few, so please forgive me. No slight intended!
This poem came to me this morning. I startled awake from a dream that was instantly forgotten with the words, “O, tremble and quake, Jerusalem” on my lips.
Yeah, I know weird, right?
Who can say what shaped it… Religious holidays, the violence in the news from the Middle East, a Muse with a wicked predilection for William Blake’s “dark Satanic mills?”
But there it was… and out the rest of the words spilled.
It is very fresh for me; and while there may be some non-subtle Christian imagery for Easter embedded, I am not fully dialed into how to read it… especially through your unique lenses.
What do you think? What is this poem about (to you)?
As always, I love to read your thoughts, feelings, reactions to the poem in the “Leave a Reply” section below.
-PS Conway
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hushed anticipation
O, tremble and quake, Jerusalem
from the witness of your walls, you Pharisees forsake
a lamb to die
his mournful cries
fill the skies
on a bleak and desolate day
what’s to be gained?
with bellies full
with coffers full
no need to eat such innocence
to feed the fears
to drown the tears
this flock of plagued and poor downtrodden
susurrate, “mercy,”
then bound away in fright
roll away the stone
witness and see blue butterflies born to love again
take new flight
into such light
high out of sight
where angels watch in hushed anticipation
happy Easter! thank you for your lovely post
Thank you very much. Happy Easter! 🍷🙏🏻🦋👏🏻
Beautifully poignant!
Thank you so much, Katy! 🙏🏻🍷🦋
Wow, what can one say … the holy land in crisis, blood spilt. Intolerance of different beliefs and cultures. It seems more poignant when the coming together, of celebration, is so tainted with hate.
I only see one humanity, we are the same tribe, have the same needs. Compassion for each other is my belief.
Your enlightened words speak volumes in a way that I could never express, which is why I love your poetry.
Easter greetings to you and yours.
Thank you 🙏 🍀 🍀 🍀
Cheers, Sandie. Love your thoughts on compassion and totally agree! And thank you so much for the kind words on my poetry. Happy Easter! 🙏🏻🦋🌹☘️☘️☘️
A poem of the story of the Easter celebration! The rolling away of the stone and of “the blue butterflies” to take flight into the light seems to indicate the resurrection and return of Jesus to heaven. The angels wait in hushed anticipation could indicate they’re waiting for him to arrive after resurrection but could also indicate they indicate they are eager for him to return again to earth. Great seasonal poem!
Happy Easter, PS!! Love hearing your thoughts – and hope your day is amazing! 🦋🙏🏻🌹🍷✨
Same to you, my friend!
All these images of the Ressurection seem to be pleading for a faith and following based less on fear and more on love. No need to invoke an earthquake or sacrifice a lamb as a representation of the body of Christ. Faith can be more peaceful gentle. A great message for violent times Pat. Happy Easter.
I will tag this comment with a resolute AMEN, Naomi! Love these thoughts and appreciate your kind words. Happy Easter! 🦋🍷🙏🏻🌹✨