CRUCIFIXION

And there you stood, your little group of five

or six, as near as you dared, with the restive crowd

around you spitting and shouting out aloud

their insults, trying to prove themselves alive

by lording it over men condemned to die.

The women stood close to protect you. Young John,

of all the men, stood by you now alone.

You stood there as the sun crept through the sky.

And Jesus, failing, turned his head to you

and said (as if it were needed!), “Behold your son!”

“I see him too well,” you thought. But then to John,

“Behold your mother!” giving him to you. 

And here you found a sign that even in death

he gave you love and care with his last breath.