And a Good Friday Was Had By All
You men there, keep those women back and
God
Almighty he laid down on the crossed timber
and old Silenus my offsider
look at me as if to say nice work for soldiers,
your mind's not your own once
you sign that dotted line
Ave Caesar and all that malarkey Imperator Rex
well this Nazarene didn't make it any
easier really‑
not like the ones who kick up a fuss
so you can do your block and
take it out on them
Silenus held the spikes steady and I let
fly with the sledge‑hammer,
not looking on the downswing
trying hard not to
hear over the women's wailing
the bones give way the iron shocking the dumb
wood.
Orders is orders, I said after it was over
nothing personal you understand‑
we had a drill‑sergeant once thought he was God
but he wasn't a patch on you
then we hauled on the ropes and he rose in
the hot air
like a diver just leaving the springboard,
arms spread so it seemed over the whole damned creation
over the big men who must have had it in for him
and the curious ones
who'll watch anything if it's free with only the usual
women caring anywhere
and a blind man in tears.
‑ BRUCE DAWE
Painting by Rev Wes Campbell (used with permission)
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