The women’s gifts to Him would not last long:
Just as His corpse itself must soon decay,
Embalming myrrh’s soft sweetness drifts away.
A tomb that’s carved in stone’s forever strong,
But nothing can sweet aloes’ life prolong.
What Joseph gave would stand beyond today:
This granite burial site was sure to stay–
Regardless of what time might bring along.
But at the sepulcher stunned women learned
The grave the Savior borrowed He returned;
The risen Christ would visit Galilee:
An upper room, a shore beside the sea.
What Joseph thought he gave he only lent;
The women’s incense still gives forth its scent.
'Returned' have 6 comments
May 22, 2020 @ 1:03 pm Ben Jefferies
Long live the New Formalists! What an excellent and heart-catching poem. Those last two lines are ringing in my ears. I had not heard of Christensen before now, but his ear for meter as a means of presenting the story is positively Tennysonian! Thank you for this.
May 23, 2020 @ 10:43 pm Bryce Christensen
Thank you for your gratifyingly kind words, Ben. I\’m glad that you like the poem.
May 23, 2020 @ 11:50 am Cynthia Erlandson
Very beautiful, Bryce!
May 24, 2020 @ 9:34 am Bryce Christensen
Thank you, Cynthia, for your encouraging comment.
May 24, 2020 @ 9:23 am Laura
What beauty is described by Bryce! Not just physical, but more important, emotional and spiritual.
May 25, 2020 @ 11:21 pm Bryce Christensen
I am very pleased that you find emotional and spiritual beauty in my poem, Laura. Thank you.