Spring is Spiritual!
by Cynthia E.  Jones

Spring shares such beauty and my faith is in full bloom..........

What is Easter? There are different religions, different beliefs and cultures that tell us of sacrifice and alterations of many kinds. When I think of this time of year, I am taken to my knees with so much emotion and healing. It is a time of new, a time of life, a time of change and beginnings in our world. All that has been buried and sleeping during our past winter months will now pop up, open their eyes and begin a new cycle of life. What ever religion, belief or culture; is that not what it all represents?

This is the time for me to celebrate a man’s rising to Heaven to sit in my defense so that I may be reborn. It brings me great pleasure to have the opportunity to share with you a poem I have written. I began writing this for Easter in 1999 and it was so long that it was more of a short story. Continually revising until my words formed what I have today. My verse is not meant to detour from the beauty of spring with blooming beauties such as lilies and daffodils, or to take away from the fun of the Easter Bunny, hiding colored eggs or filling baskets with candy and toys! My verse is a remembrance to me of what a man suffered and endured for me. It is a time for celebrations and everyone celebrates in their own personal way. We are a diverse people and I respect that! This is my own personal homage to my faith and without that faith, I would not survive one day in this world.

"He Lives"

On his back a heavy cross
Figuratively and Literally
he carried his cross;
Bitter and pronounced; to endure.

Struggling along his path;
Wounds of torment reopened
Sweat stings; blood mixes with taste;
Bitter and pronounced; to endure

Exhaustion drips from body and muscle
tearing into bits; salt burns the traces made
of his cross and his torments
Bitter and pronounced; to endure.

Laughter and teasing, ridicule and disbelieving;
A poor man claiming to be a king!
Taunting and daring to see his strength!
It's bitter and it's pronounced and it's endured!

At the close of his path, high upon a hill
two others in example of his;
He sees... He knows... He cries!
It's bitter and it's pronounced and it's endured!

Only a moment of relief; Cross touches down;
Quick and Sharp pain returns
CRACK!...a nail driven in one hand.
CRACK!...a nail driven in the other hand.

He weeps and the crowd hushed
some reluctant; some doubt;
Feet nailed in place and Cross raised high;
It's bitter and it's pronounced and it's endured.

Pleading for drink and favored with vinegar.
Feeling forsaken; Strength given;
Through it all he forgives;
Bitter, Pronounced, Endured

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