Many Things to Many Men

maybe a work in progress..

Many Things to Many Men

 

There are those who say

He rose to the occasion

On sacred eagle wings

Or might they have been

Angels

For surely

They were golden

Tho avid disbelievers

Flocked

To that very special

Oh’ so sacred spot

Where he hushed them all

As children

For he became to them

So very many things

Not least a

Pilot and a beacon

To shipwrecked craft

An outstretched arm

For starving men

A fisherman and farmer

Oh’ yes

They watched him rise

Through fingers splayed

Through vows and veils

Through shallow graves

They watched him

From hallowed clouds 

Of dust

Unleavened bread

A sacred toast of wine

He bled

Yet not one drop

Was shed or cupped

Oh’ yes he rose they said

On sacred eagle wings

Or might they have been

Angels

For surely

They were golden

Yet mid tears and sweat

A barren cleft

Not barely touched

Left naked neath

The meadow

Known as Calvary

 

 

 

 

 

Author's Note

Who knows, miracles do still sometimes happen.. maybe

Reviews

[andrew mitchell]

Fine write Nev. I'm not religious but I'm resurrected every Monday morning when I have to go to work!

[Neville]

Thank you Andrew, visit appreciated.. why not throw a sickie, then we can all go out to play.... N

[silentwriter180]

We all have our own miracles in life. Some may not even realize they've come, as they are small. Sure, the larger ones are noticeable. But again, we all have our own miracles in life. I am grateful for mine.

[Neville]

always good to know what one has got.. even better to appreciate those things.. I certainly appreciate your visit to this page.... Cheers my friend.. Neville

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i really like this interpretation of what happened there....if indeed it did.
and then there was Mary M.
such an interesting creature...i wish i could have met her.
she was proof that those who might be dispelled by society can have such great impact in the end.
j.

[Neville]

and I am truly grateful to you for considering my words jacob.. many thanks indeed... N

[angel]

A side note; Mary Magdalene, although tradition has made her one, was not a harlot.She had had seven demons cast out by Jesus. She was one of several women who traveled with Jesus and saw to the needs of Him as well as His apostles. She was a "woman of means"Luke 8:2-3 New International Version (NIV):
...and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; 3 Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.
The word Magdalene she was also called 'the Magdalene in one of the several verses that mention her) most likely was describing her as being from the town of Magdala, which was a fishing village on the Western shore of the Sea of Galilee. I know all this stuff cos I graduated from Liberty University in 184, after a several years long correspondence course qualified me to be a Pastor, if I wanted; I never did, because I don't feel that a woman should be one.
Before the feminists start jumping on that, let me add that this is MY heart's conviction, and may not jibe with yours. No offense intended.

[angel]

I meant 1984, of course. My 9 key sticks...

[Neville]

I got ya back.. no worries... sticky key syndrome gets us all in the end............

[angel]

Yesterday it got stuck on CAPS LOCK, today, sticky on the number 9, number 9, number 9...

[Neville]

tell me a story, please.. I need to know about that number 9.......

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Block that Kick, Block that Kick.....number 9, number 9,
and in the end.....

[angel]

One story comin up as soon as I finish my baking

[angel]

Okay, now. while the cookies are in the oven...
One morning, little Jesus was out playing by his home.
He had been inside for the last few days, because it had been raining.
Their neighbor, Old Benjamin, who was a farmer, was glad of the rain, because it would help his crops thrive.
His parents had been pleased as well, because the well that served the town had been low lately, and the water tasted a bit muddy.Jesus had been left to entertain himself, and he missed his friend, Joshua. It seemed that Joshua was still not able to play, because he was sick with a cough and fever. He seemed to get sick a lot.
"I wish Joshua was well," said little Jesus to himself. "I would love to play with him." He had no sooner said this, than Joshua's mother came running from her house, crying and screaming, "My son! My only son, Joshua, is dead!"
All the neighbors came out to see what the commotion was about.
"Why are you crying?" asked little Jesus. "He's all right. Look! He's coming outside now!"
Joshua's mother turned and beheld her son, coming out of the door of their house.
"Praise the God of Abraham!" she shouted, and she gathered Joshua into her arms. "My son lives; I was sure that he was dead. He seemed so."
"Mother, may I play with Jesus?" he asked.
"Yes, but don't wander off," his mother reolied, "In case you begin to feel ill again."
"Yes, Mother," Joshua said happily, and the two boys began to improvise a game to play.

An odd thing; Joshua was never ill again.

[angel]

Did I mention that it was 9 o'clock on the 9th day of the 9th month, and that young Joshua had been sick 9 times in all? Oh, sorry. After all, 9 is a very lucky number, in case you didn't know.

[Neville]

Cor blimey missus.. makes ya wonder dunnit...

[angel]

Yes, yes it does. This story, of course, is from the apocryphal book of ANGELUS

[Neville]

Tis a gear read luv....

[angel]

Oooh, so ye've read it , have ye? Well, good. It'll serve ye well.

[Neville]

Summat needs to.....ta.. N

[angel]

Calvary...Golgotha. Nearest translation:Skull Place.
I do believe in miracles,
They happen every day
My heart is humbled, I am awed
By all the handiwork of God.

[Neville]

Thank you Angel. Some amazing & wonderful things do happen for sure, I have seen a few .....Glorious hallelujah 's .. N

[angel]

Both May Pang, with whom he lived (a devout catholic), and I (A Church of God regular) talked to John about Jesus a LOT. He said that he wished he could have faith. I hope he developed some. He wanted to believe.

[Neville]

although a genius, ya can't know everything.. thank you for teaching me angel.... N

[alanwgraham]

One of the good things about WC is that you get to see a bit of what makes people click although I realise I have confused matters by sometimes writing in another voice. I used to be a church goer in the days of my youth and it was something i thought about a lot. I do get this poem Neville and you have expressed very clearly and with great poetic skill your thoughts on the resurrection. I'm not sure but would it be worth versifying this in some way and particularly to emphasise the repeated lines.
All the best,
Alan

[Neville]

Thank you so very much for visiting these words Alan, you may well be right about the versification of them... I will certainly give the suggestion further consideration & thank you again.. until then, this Buddhist remains your very appreciative literary friend...... Neville

[Chris Shaw]

Your lines Neville refer to the crucifiction of Jesus Christ on the cross at Calvary Hill, and I believe the subsequent miracles that took place shortly afterwards which proved to many of his followers that he was indeed the son of God. In particular, the resurrection. I like the way you have worded this poem, He was many things to many men, and still remains that way today. It is refreshing to be reminded of his life. It would be nice if more people who say they are Christians, acted like him.

Chris

[Neville]

Cheers Chris, I do so appreciate this particular visit.. funny isn't it, tho raised a Christian, I have spent thrice the time practicing/trying to follow my Kongo Zen preferred way of living.... I must admit, I agree with your concluding sentence tho... AGT's N

[Chris Shaw]

I was raised a Christian but find myself now in the middle of nowhere. Good you have found Kongo Zen.

Chris

[Neville]

Kongo Zen is also known as 'The Middle Way' as is of course Buddhism in general.. tis all about balance....and there are far worse places to be, aint there my friend... N