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I gave my back to those who beat me,
my cheeks to those who plucked my beard. 
(First Reading)

Russian Easter

Gold onion domes
rise
above the snow in
Kiev
above the leafless
trees

the gold

and in dark
woods
the silver wolf 
watches

and in the brush
blanketed 
with snow the
rabbit chews

roots

and in the church icons 
glow in candle light

and opening lilies
scent
the air and

near

the icon of
the Mother
holding the Child whose
shoe
unloosed running
from

fear

 

 


the priest whispers
to
the penitent
that
sins are seeds

from
which flowers
may grow

but only after 
they 
are buried

in Christ 
our earth

whose wounds
after
the Resurrection
did
not disappear

but shone
more
than rubies
on a stole

or flowers
in snow

gold onion domes
rise 
above the snow in 
Kiev
under the leafless
trees

the snow

can look lemon 
yellow 
lavender blue and
rose


 


J. Janda

J. Janda’s poems have appeared in newspapers, magazines, anthologies, and literary publications, as well as in books of his own poetry.
The present poem comes from the Janda's book, In Embrace.
Art by Martin Erspamer, OSB
from Religious Clip Art for the Liturgical Year (A, B, and C). This art may be reproduced only by parishes who purchase the collection in book or CD-ROM form. For more information go http://www.ltp.org