THE TOMB

intended as a haven
for the absence of life
sterile, stony, without light
bed for pallid frame.

dark as darkest night
future of death awaits
silent, motionless, cold.

when will the stone of finality
shout its triumph?
sealing my fate.

until that hour
i wait with bated breath
control have i none
over master death
so i remain
unmoved, untouched,
barren, alone.

a glimmer of light
the sound of stone against stone
footsteps.

enter life and death
co-mingled in the tears
of the woman
and her companions
bearing the body
of a friend.

what a strange combination

heights of sorrow
and depths of joy
with undertones of expectancy
faces that bare life
hands that bear death 

hands of the woman
smooth the smooth stone
preparing a bed
what else is there to do?

gentleness of touch
wraps round my stony being
i feel. 
what is feeling? 
i am a tomb
yet she makes me feel.

the body is placed
upon me
i cradle it for her

twisted stage:
mother's arms
soft, tender
epitome of love

replaced by stone
emotionless, hard
incapable of feeling
yet,
beginning to feel? 

weeping 
ebbs
reverent silence
flows
eyes 
pool
with waters of devotion
flooding the dead body of One
whose springs of living water
set life in motion

too great a body 
to rest in this tomb
rigid, cold
yet
i have been chosen
mystery, reveal!
to this stone soul

in the stillness
there sounds
an unheard symphony
of emotion

they tear the women away
and coax the woman away
her dry lips
whisper its climax:

JESUS

breaking the silence
setting in motion
a crescendo of weeping
love 
agony
disbelief
loyalty
fear

all that is unspoken
i hear
in the sound of tears
from the portal,
they look
and revere

JESUS

sun breaks free
and,
reaches into the tomb
warming 
dank stone.

light penetrates
the depths of darkness
illuminating.

"setting captives free"
one whispers.

then,
they seal the door
it is as once before
dark and cold.

but not the same,
for though i remain
still motionless stone
 
i am moved.
 








tomorrow,
he will move the unmovable 
stone.
tomorrow,
he will shoot forth life 
from the deathly barren
tomb
so death is no more.

tomorrow, 
"even the stones shall cry out!"