don't look at me (i am the cross) | Previous Challenge Entry

how it works

TITLE: don't look at me (i am the cross) | Previous Challenge Entry
By Evan Peck
08/21/06
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES

(A couple of notes:
the “gymnast” metaphor – this is in reference to the physical act that was required of Jesus on the cross to breathe. To prevent suffocation, the crucified must lift their body upwards on the cross for every breath (due to the hanging state). I hate to mention this, but it occurred to me how strange a metaphor it might sound without this prior knowledge.
Also, stylistic changes in the piece with capital letters and punctuation are intentional and serve a purpose)

Title: don't look at me (i am the cross)

i am but wood
i am but ground

don't look at me

touch my hands, my feet, my side
i am but dirt

i stood my post and drank his blood
in stretching agony

as if i could throw him off

i longed to be the austere mother
with dirt-worn aprons and running feet
a wrinkled brow
built by grass stains and skinned knees

"you shouldn't climb trees"

not me
don't look at me

i was carried like an angry child
stiff and heavy
i pushed him to the ground
should man carry his assassin?

via dolorosa
he should not scale the tree

we climbed up the eternal hill
to test eternity with splendor
the carried now the bearing
cradling perfection
with bitter nails

and i knew it
i was there

for the fading gymnast's dire routine
on stabbing bars of steel
yielding half-filled breaths and dwindled strength
a prolonged presence in an anguished world

i was there

i a splintered edge and he a splintered king
cut and carved
scored and seared to who we are
but i am wood and he is king

here i stood and here he fell
a silent symbol bathed in blood
and drowned in tears

i was there

what shadowed farmer plants for death
watering trees
with bones and innocence
burying beauty
among shards of glass and rusted knives
eager
the latter can devour

i was there
when we cried

the weeping wood
the groaning ground
our hands
our hills
our feet
our nails

…

don't look at me

i am but wood
i am but ground

Glory

i've touched His hands
i've touched His feet
i've touched His side

i am but dirt

Glory

Awaken Firstborn from the Dead

O Triumph shards and rust
O Triumph wood and nail
O Triumph blood and tears

Awaken Morning Star

O Triumph arduous life
O Triumph crushing death
O Triumph ceaseless time

Awake unto the skies

O Triumph me.

Glory

don't look at me

Glory.

Glory.

Glory.

Biblical references:
eternal hills” (Deuteronomy 33:15)
“Firstborn from the Dead” (Revelations 1:5)
“Morning Star” (Revelations 22:16)

PREVIOUS ENTRY | NEXT ENTRY
SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY FOR THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE

The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.

If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be right now. CLICK HERE

JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.