Forever and All is Grace

The executioner’s block, wood painted red,
            In random nonsensical style;
Impartial it sits, welcomes the dead,
            Swift and absent of guile.

I step to the stage, sink to my knees,

            Rough, and calloused degrades;
Dry eyes of shame, kissed by the breeze,
            Disgusted I turn, it fades. 

I lower my neck, planted in place,

            Splinters and flesh adorn;
My pride doth curse, elected disgrace,
            My heart is battered and worn

Live, I cannot, I shant persist,

            Death the inevitable end;
Sin always rapes, an unceasing list,
            Blackness, thou trusted friend.

Up is the ax, shimmering truth,

            I long for justice’s rest;
Peace I shall find, lost and forsooth,
            Darkness shall be my nest.

But suddenly,

The script is swapped,
The sun is gone,
The ax is stopped.

And light emerges, single and direct,

but moon I cannot see, its source bereft.
A harrowed spot upon the ground it shines,
I kneel and am naked, where are my clothes?
The block is gone, the earth not,
I alone waiting, and waiting, is time forgot?
A day, a year, I cannot be sure;
Alive or dead, meaningless terms.
A stirring is felt, prickles of warmth,
Fear would be the natural response, but alas, I am too ashamed to care.
Weeping, I commence, perplexed as to why,
There’s something about this light, its embrace, my exposed humanity
Which renders me broken, and yet comforted, yet consoled, yet wondrously held secure.

Then into the light, soft steps a lamb,

            Its fleece, scarred and red;
Eyes flashing truth, blood of the damned
            A crown of thorns ‘pon its head.

It stares me down, straight through my soul,

            My tears have ceased their flow;
Frozen in gaze, but no longer cold
            Explain, I do not know.

The light on the lamb, found from its eyes,

            Erupts within my tomb;
Thrashing my shame, defeated disguise,
            Warm tears of comfort resume.

I hear the lamb speak, but move it does not,
            As if our lights are one;
unified soul, its scars did bought,
            A friendship of love begun.

“Fear ne’er again, guilt is gone,

            Search true within my face;
These scars are yours, the light of the dawn,
            Forever and all is grace.

Come with me now, to our Father’s home,
            A green country of all that’s right;
What’s done I’ve done, you are well known,
            Come feast in His marvelous light.

Question not how, question not one,

            For answers are found in His face;
Light has come, the night is done,
            Forever, and all, is grace.”