These Are My JOTtings...

The Day of Waiting

The day of waiting 'side the tomb
is spent in tearful loss.
He shed His Blood by lash in gloom.
It puddled near the cross.

His many words they thought were good,
but still abused Him full.
One wonders should the roughened wood
envision hearts so cruel.

He gave them bread and greatest wine
and fish enough to spare.
He grafted into strongest vine
by lifting ev'ry care.

Yet, Saturday of Sabbath rest
brought restlessness to heart.
If Jesus could not pass this test,
then where can search now start?

A cave, a rock a body wrapped,
our hope full locked in tomb.
The life of Now, no future, trapped,
no life of heart, no room.

If God can die, can Man yet live?
What reason should I breathe?
No God exists? No hope to give?
No food but tears to grieve?

What WERE the thoughts of men that day?
Did women have one hope?
Did tongue have any word to say?
Did sunlight help them cope?

This Jesus laid as dead as all.
His words did not seem real.
There was no sage on whom to call,
no simple touch to heal.

This day the sun with blackened eye
arose with gloomy rays.
It wondered should it dare to cry
for hopeful bygone days?

The Earth much trembling at the thought
that One Who made her live
Was wrapped in cloths, inside her brought,
His sacrifice to give.

The wind in wails of languished moans
just heaved from belly full.
Her freedom lay entombed and groans
of helpless, longings pull.

Did birds still chirp? Did cattle low?
Did animals search food?
Did silence through the Earth full grow
as ears to tomb were glued?

Did trees up waft their entish song
in minor key so stayed?
Did hope for ending major long
with King newly arrayed?

How does one live on Saturday,
when death of dear One's new?
O, can there be some Hope to say
before this life is through?

It could be true that He would live
again as He had said,
But where is hope of heart to give
to feast upon as bread?

Just wait and see is all we dare
to grasp on day so lost.
Can someone new begin to care
and help our hopeless cause?

As sun goes down 'hind mournful clouds
I'll cry myself to sleep
As pray my nighttime prayer aloud,
"Will He my soul yet keep?"

"We thought He would Messiah be
to save us ev'ry whit,
"But save himself He didn't, See?
How sad can life now get?"

"The darkness now engulfs the land.
What need have I of light?
"This cannot be what God had planned
to give us days of night!"

"Let sleep enfold me full in arms.
Let dreams be ev'ry thought.
"Let days now end in loud alarms,
if hope cannot be taught."

"May breath still get me through the night.
May heart beat hoping strong.
"May sun awake me with his light
that brings to me a song,
"If new day can then make things right,
destroying all the wrong,
"Then I will cling to hope so bright
and live in gladness long."

by Jay O'Toole
on April 15th, 2017