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Two Poems for Good Friday and Easter
This year, in lieu of posting my own poems, I wanted to share with you some beautiful gems by two of my favorite poets. I hope these verses draw your thoughts first to the cross and then to the empty tomb!
“Spit in my Face” by John Donne
This poem was written in the early 1600’s, around the same time Shakespeare was writing. That’s why you’ll notice some antiquated spelling and diction. But in spite of that (or because of it) the poem is well worth a Good Friday meditation.
Donne acknowledges that his daily sin is an affront to the sinless savior and knows that Donne himself deserves the hateful treatment Jesus suffered at the hands of the Jews. He marvels at the juxtaposition between man’s willful sin and Christ’s willing suffering. Instead of simply excusing sin with a pardon, this King chose rather to pay the price himself. He took on flesh not for selfish gain but to suffer in salvation. Hallelujah, what a savior!
Spit in my Face
Spit in my face you Jewes, and pierce my side,
Buffet, and scoffe, scourge, and crucifie mee,
For I have sinn’d, and sinn’d, and onely hee,
Who could do no iniquitie, hath dyed:
But by my death can not be satisfied
My sinnes, which passe the Jewes impiety:
They kill’d once an inglorious man, but I
Crucifie him daily, being now glorified.
Oh let mee then, his strange love still admire:
Kings pardon, but he bore our punishment.
And Jacob came cloth’d in vile harsh attire
But to supplant, and with gainfull intent:
God cloth’d himselfe in vile mans flesh, that so
Hee might be weake enough to suffer woe.
“Easter” by Gerard Manley Hopkins
After dwelling on the cross, turn your eyes to the empty tomb! Gerard Manley Hopkins wrote during the mid-1800’s, and while his spelling is more modern, this poem is full of biblical allusions.
The poem points to the whole earth’s celebration of Jesus’ resurrection. The first stanza alludes to Matthew 26, where Mary of Bethany anoints Jesus with costly perfume. The joyous reality of Easter demands an extravagant celebration! Stanza two paints Jesus as the groom at a joyful wedding celebration in heaven, and the third stanza shows nature herself reflecting the joy of resurrection in springtime.
Hopkins was a Jesuit priest, and in stanza four he encourages his fellow priests to trade their Lenten suffering for Easter’s glad renewal. The final stanza ends with a beautiful challenge: to “make each morn an Easter day.” He is risen! He is risen indeed!
Easter
Break the box and shed the nard;
Stop not now to count the cost;
Hither bring pearl, opal, sard;
Reck not what the poor have lost;
Upon Christ throw all away:
Know ye, this is Easter Day.
Build His church and deck His shrine,
Empty though it be on earth;
Ye have kept your choicest wine—
Let it flow for heavenly mirth;
Pluck the harp and breathe the horn:
Know ye not ’tis Easter morn?
Gather gladness from the skies;
Take a lesson from the ground;
Flowers do ope their heavenward eyes
And a Spring-time joy have found;
Earth throws Winter’s robes away,
Decks herself for Easter Day.
Beauty now for ashes wear,
Perfumes for the garb of woe,
Chaplets for dishevelled hair,
Dances for sad footsteps slow;
Open wide your hearts that they
Let in joy this Easter Day.
Seek God’s house in happy throng;
Crowded let His table be;
Mingle praises, prayer, and song,
Singing to the Trinity.
Henceforth let your souls alway
Make each morn an Easter Day.
One Comment on “Two Poems for Good Friday and Easter”
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Beautiful and timeless. Thanks for posting these poems! Loved the last line of John Donne’s poem, “God cloth’d himselfe in vile mans flesh, that so
Hee might be weake enough to suffer woe.”.
To not only take our place but also make himself weak enough to suffer like us is the most powerful and humbling aspect of the cross to me.