One of the most remarkable things about the resurrection appearances in the Gospels is the way the disciples are perplexed—even distressed—by them. Almost, one might say, “undone,” though in fact it is not so much they themselves as their world that is undone. Things that were clear and fixed have come loose. The future, for them, was now radically different, and they could not tell exactly how. They are torn between the known, mournful past, and this future that they could not absorb—could barely imagine, in fact. That’s why they had trouble recognizing Jesus when he appeared. He had, after all, no business being there. That’s why they had difficulty making sense of his presence when they did recognize him. The following poem tries to capture—in admittedly anachronistic images—some of their confusion: