t (Tau)

(by Ross Miller)

That dreadful beam
that Jesu bore
knot made from pine
but ancient tree
that bore a bitter fruit

That pole on which it hung
he hung
knot made from pine
undying tree of life
that bears forever fruit

Take and eat – the Serpent cried
You shall not die
You shall be
like God
We bit
The Servant took those twisted words
held them on the knotted wood
Take and eat – the Servant cries
You shall not die
You shall be
like me

This poem was inspired by Colin McCahon. He called the cross the Tau and painted it like a “T”. In one of his paintings he paired the T with the tree from the Garden of Eden from the start of Genesis. This poem alludes to the tree of life in the New Earth/Heaven from the end of Revelation.

—

Passover Night

(by Ross Miller)
Stay indoors this night
this dreaded night
this night of the angel of death
This night when the firstborn son shall die
unless
unless
you stay indoors

Indoors with doors painted
painted with the blood of a lamb
If the angel of death
sees the blood of a lamb
he’ll pass over that door
It’s safer to stay indoors this night
this dreaded night
this night of the angel of death
But Jesus
firstborn son
and Lamb of God
went to pray
outdoors

Jesus was crucified during the Passover season. The Last Supper was probably a Passover meal.