The last day

Haiku of the passion

Lord, we are your friends;

You’re everything to us:

we’d never betray.

You’ll all desert me,

but don’t dwell on these failures.

There is always hope.

Even you, Peter,

so stop your protestations;

you will deny me.

Take my body-bread,

this wine, red like my bleeding;

my life, shared for you.

Facing his fears

while his weary friends sleep on;

praying all alone.

Jesus is betrayed,

arrested and put on trial.

There is one outcome.

Who are you, Jesus?

Are you the king that some claim,

the promised from God?

It has been settled.

He walks to the killing place

where his cross awaits.

They laugh and they mock,

they taunt him as he hangs there,

silent, accepting.

His work is complete.

He takes his final breath, sighs,

and lets it all go.

© Ken Rookes 2018