Four Days
Easter Thursday
Lord, today,
This darkest day,
Both man and devil, they
Stretch out Your form and Your flesh flay,
On rough-hewn cross Your bleeding body lay.
While hell will relish this display,
This Godforsaken day,
The Son will stay
As sin’s prey.
Easter Friday
Lord, today
Your body lay
On cold, hard stone; your clay
Reclined in darkness. Meanwhile, they
Who loved You, in despair, all numbly pray
They know not what. What can they say
To God, Who took away
Their hope, and may
Them betray?
Easter Saturday
Lord, today
Yet still You lay
In earth’s chill heart; while they
Who loved You brood in black dismay
And see no cause, no point, no sense, no way
Forward or back. Oh for one ray
Of faith to cheer, to stay
Doubt one more day!
Just one day!
Easter Sunday
Lord, today
You could not stay
Entombed in stone; away
Death fled when You rose up, and lay
Your graveclothes down, and in the morning gray
Walked forth in triumph! That delay
Was proof that all You say
You do—always,
Lord, always.
Notes: Began as prayer (first four lines of Friday). Assumes a Thursday crucifixion.
Metre: 3.4.6.8.10.8.6.4.3
by Layton Talbert
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