The Lawgiver

Crucifixion

A choir of angels glorified the hour,

The vault of heaven was dissolved in fire.

“Father, why hast Thou forsaken me?

Mother, I beg you, do not weep for me . . .”

by Ana Akmatova

For the Baptist

"The last and greatest herald of Heaven's King,
Girt with rough skins, hies to the deserts wild,
Among that savage brood the woods forth bring,
Which he than man more hamless found and mild:..."

William Drummond of Hawthornden

Unknown Letter

"But Jesus bent over

and wrote with his finger

on the earth

and again bent over

and wrote on the earth...."

Tadeusz Rozewics

The Donkey

When fishes flew and forests walked
And figs grew upon thorn,
Some moment when the moon was blood
Then surely I was born;

Salome

"...And then, Salome! Still a child (a child!)
She drinks the potion, horrible, defiled,
That summons up dark vengeance and the sword...."

Mikola Zerov

Adoro Te

Godhead here in hiding, whom I do adore,
Masked by these bare shadows, shape and nothing more,
See, Lord, at Thy service low lies here a heart
Lost, all lost in wonder at the God thou art.