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After the Storm
All darkness past, the sun now shines
Through shredded storm clouds drained of rain;
Its bright beams crown, as day declines,
The Victor’s head, now free of pain–
That holy head, which for my good
Was first pierced by a thorny crown,
Now bows in peace, though drenched in blood,
Freed from the sins that weighed it down.
His homebound soul has taken flight,
His silent form’s at rest again,
His passion’s past, He’s won the fight,
And reconciled God and men.
Now in a dark and cool cocoon
His shattered body will be laid,
But from that cell will come forth soon
A Monarch crowned, in strength arrayed.
His Majesty will be made known,
In every place, to every tribe,
And multitudes His truth will own,
And glory to His name ascribe.
Oh, precious Savior, how can I
Express the gratitude I feel?
I fall down at your feet and cry,
“Let all the earth before Him kneel!
Oh praise the King, who from His throne
To wingéd glory soon will raise
His own to fly where He has flown
To live with Him through endless days.”
.
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Martin Rizley grew up in Oklahoma and in Texas, and has served in pastoral ministry both in the United States and in Europe. He is currently serving as the pastor of a small evangelical church in the city of Málaga on the southern coast of Spain, where he lives with his wife and daughter. Martin has enjoyed writing and reading poetry as a hobby since his early youth.
Martin, a well-crafted narrative filled with lovely bits, my favorite being
the sun now shines
Through shredded storm clouds drained of rain;
And your closing stanza soars as high as the subject it describes. Alleluia to the Risen One who inspires such poetry as yours.
A blessed Easter, Martin. Indeed!
James, Thank you so much for your encouraging words. I hope you had a blessed Easter, as well!
This is an obviously inspired portrayal of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ with deep-seated feelings emanating from your loving and beautiful words. A great poem for Easter! Thank you for sharing!
Roy, Thank you for your feedback. I was thinking that Evan might schedule it for Good Friday, but as you point out, it looks prospectively toward the day of resurrection, so it is appropriate for Easter Sunday, as well. Blessings to you!
This is beautiful, indeed. I love your unusual focus: instead of writing about the more-often portrayed scenes — when Christ was on the cross, or after He was in the tomb — you’ve chosen the brief time when his lifeless body hadn’t yet been buried, and so shine a thin ray of light on that moment of betweenness which directs the reader to look both back to pain, and ahead to glory.
Cynthia, Thank you for your thoughtful reflections. I had not thought about how the poem´s focus on “the moment of betweenness” between Jesus´ death and burial is somewhat unusual, and leads naturally to a dual focus on the past and future. The idea for the poem came to me from a photograph I saw of an empty cross with a ray of light shining on it through storm clouds. It made me think of that “in between” moment after Jesus´ death and before His burial. I appreciate your comments.
I especially like the analogy in the fourth stanza: not just a butterfly emerging from his cocoon but a Monarch! I saw a picture of this natural miracle elsewhere on the web recently with the caption: “The emergence of the Monarch is perennial.” Happy Easter! The Lord is risen.
Thank you, Monika for sharing your thoughts. The comparison of Christ´s resurrection to a butterfly emerging from its cocoon came to me quickly, since it is a fairly “natural” metaphor, but then I remembered that one species of butterfly is called the “monarch,” and I thought, how appropriate! I hope you had a blessed Easter.
Martin, this is a fine original description, as others have said. The last stanza is a bold touch, considering the corresponding resurrection of the faithful to take place “soon.” Surely the raising of them to glory, that they may “fly where He has flown,” cannot simply mean that souls go to heaven when bodies die. Perhaps the immediate enthusiasm comes from the devoutly grateful perspective of the speaker, for whom “soon” must be whenever the Lord pleases.
Hi Margaret, I appreciate your always thoughtful reflections. Of course, I believe the entrance of the believer´s soul into heaven at death is owing to and a fruit of Christ´s victory over death; but it´s true that I was thinking more of the final day and the resurrection of the body when I wrote those words. The word “soon” must be understood in light of the truth which the apostle Peter highlights in his second epistle when he says “One day is with the Lord as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day.” What seems like such a long time from a human perspective is always “soon” from God´s perspective. The time separating Christ´s first advent from his second coming is quite short for the “Ancient of Days.” Thanks again for your thoughts.