”VERONICA WIPES THE FACE OF JESUS”
{ The Sixth Station Of The Cross }
Ever so fragilely…..He pushed Himself forward
Carrying +h’ laboring Cross…….of Sacred Wood
Carving deep cut impressions, upon His shoulder
Dark blood raining on His pale….pain-winced face
Blighting His eye’s as He negotiated……… +h Path
Quietly moving along side +h’ dusted road…alone
Yet, surrounded by a conclave of Caesar’s puppets
Gathering to watch a Man carry a Cross……an’ Die
Celebrate with sweet wine…….as +h’ Man is nailed
An’ Crucified….raise their bloody goblets…in cheer
+h’woman stood statued, draped in eggshell white
thickly veiled, so’s not +o be marked by +h’ crowd
Yet despite the dark shroud…occluding her visage
Her marrow shook….as +h’ Cross bearer passed her
Ne’re once breaking stride, she felt His eyes on her
And, as He passed she felt +h’ pain upon His face
Then He stumbled, fell to +h’ rock turf….laid there
Breathing hard….+hru’ +h’ pour of blood an’ sweat
+h’ Man did not see her….as she ran towards Him
While +h’ crowd glared at +h’ woman with disdain
She first called out to Him…..+hen pushed her way
Past +h’ armed soldier’s in defiance of consequence
+hen scrambled to +h’ Man, an’ kneeling a+ His feet
She handed Him a fresh white cloth….and she wept
Rising, He wiped +h’ red sweat, black crusted blood
+h’ Man nodded, and +thanking her with His eyes-
Placed +h’ stained cloth gently into her open hand’s
+hen, without a word, soldiered on…leaving behind
+his woman, her tear’s and cloth…….of dripping red
+hen to her Heart she clutched +h cloth with her life
An’ as +his Man drifted from her sight….+h’ woman
+ook +h cloth, began to unfurl it….+o refreshen I+
But as she did her hands an’ legs…began +o tremble
She pulled +h’ long, thick veil from her shadowed face
She had +o see +hat her eye’s had not been deceived
She lifted +h’ cloth high….to +h’ afternoon sunbreak
Again…she trembled at +h’ sight that lay before her
For upon this cloth so soaked in human blood stain
Bore +h’ image of ‘+h’ Face’……..who bore +h’ Cross
And, +her’ be Chapter and Verse +o mark this claim
And, Veronica, whose life would be forever graced.
© Frank James Ryan, Jr.
MMXV-All Rights Reserved
Frank James Ryan Jr (FjR)
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