"He Refused"

Today’s Lenten Meditation

A-Poem-a-Day

Until Resurrection Day

HE REFUSED

They mocked

and struck and spat and stripped

and drove spikes

through His hands and feet.

One offered wine and myrrh

to take the pointed edge

off the Excruciation.

The Savior

peered down

through kind, hot eyes,

pursed His parched lips

and shook His bleeding head.

He chose...chose!

to bear the fullness

of the sin

that nailed Him

to those crude

crossed beams;

chose to drink

the brimming chalice dry,

chose to pay the full price,

without bargain or barter,

without wholesaling

or discounting

or quibbling

or niggling it

of its terrible,

priceless

Value.

Maude Carolan