Memories of Easter
By Anderson Peter S. Desir
Castries, St. Lucia

Sunlight was failing that day quite fast,
As darkness was touching the brow of Mount Olives at last.

A midnight cloud hid a starry sky,
Nigh creatures broke the extraordinary stillness of high,
As they chirped and moaned in tones so natural and free,

Footsteps trudged a snaking path towards Gethsemane,
And sadness talked with the Saviour of mankind,

In the Garden where darkness clothed my Lord,
Our Saviour knelt “midst his scented perfume of anointment,
He prayed with a depressing and painful chord:
“Father, not my will, thine be done”.
His laboured, sorrowful, prayer bore heaviness of heart.
Sweat like drops of blood even flooded his brow.

Unable to watch through weakness, His companions slept,
Though in earnestness he pleaded: “WATCH and PRAY.”
A weak flesh overcame a willing spirit,
And while they slept the betrayer came.
The hush of Gethsemane awoke in frenzied – stricken panic,
A kiss, and they led Him away treacherously as a captive.

Jesus Christ would have called ten thousands angels,
But love for us all sinners constrained Him to face His Cross.

In Pilate’s Hall He stood accused, friendless and Forsaken

Mocked with a kingly robe He was ridiculously wearing

He turned to look pitifully at one whose great Faith was denying.

And as the cok crew – Peter’s weak conscience was suddenly awakening.

They chose Barabas instead of Jesus, while Pilate found
It fit to wash his hands from innocent blood.
Jesus was wounded and bruised, each stripe worked well with the Father’s plans
The thorns pierced His brow to stay a mocking crown,
He bore a heavy burden up Calvary and they even Gambled His gown.
In anguish he cried, as life’s stream exhausted its tide;
Suspended between earth and sky, He finally exhaled:
“It is finished”, the darkness overcame the day
as HE DIED ON HIS CROSS

Hewn out of the rock, a new empty grave
Welcomed the embalmed body of Our precious Lord and Saviour.
A large stone sealed the entrance; guards ensured
That the Son of Man would be no more.

But death can’t keep what is not its prey,
So the cloud of sorrow was powerfully blown away.
As the new day issued from the womb of night,
His loved ones hurried while the dark day grew bright.
An angel all in white was seated on His holy Sepulchre of light,
A golden sunbeam illuminated the place He once lay.

‘WHY SEEK THE LIVING AMONG THE DEAD?’ ‘HE IS NOT HERE, SEE THE PLACE HE LAID HIS HEAD!’
Christ is Risen as He said.’

O death where is Thy sting,
Grave where is your boasting!
Death is swallowed up in victory, HE LIVES! HE LIVES!

Thank God for Easter – Hallelujah!
Hal le lu jah!