A Patmos Elegy
The
younger of Zebedee’s famous boys
one
of the first to follow The Rabbi -
now
rests weary and broken
an
old man…last of the dodeka
Called
Son of Thunder
honored
to be in the inner circle of three -
now
at peace with being a tiny branch
of
the Vine of Life, a feeble old under-shepherd
Fishing
in Tiberius had been back-breaking work
fishing
for men was cruciforming and Spirit filled -
distributing
loaves and fishes had exhilarated
feeding
souls with the Body and Blood of God gave eternal peace
Growing
up wet from water and sweat, and smelling of fish
growing
old wet from Blood and Baptism and smelling of lilies
assisting
the Prince of the Apostles with the last Pascha preparation
celebrating
said Petros in a Requiem Mass of Resurrection victory
Seeing
the Paraclete’s Dove, Elias and The Lawgiver
seeing
His tears over Lazarus and His drops of sweat as blood
witnessing
Jairus’, and the Bethany sister’s joy
feeling
the Magdalene’s anguish, and the sword piercing the heart of The Virgin Mother
Following
a Lord Who cast out demoniacs and withered a tree
worshipping
a Savior jeered by devils as He was hanged on a tree
laying
his own young head on the very breast of God
now
closing his dimming eyes with His Lord embracing him forever
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