Thrice I Disowned Him

 

Around the fire that cold night

Where the lowly rubble gathers

Servants, maids, sweepers, cooks

Bearers, washerwomen, laborers

I stood with my head covered

With soiled shawl like a shroud

Hoping to mix in the chatty crowd!

While some talked of cruel weather       

Others cited their little family cares

And some to kill time of unwanted vigil

Took resort to gossip, banter blares

I stood silent with my ears  uptight

If any of the goings-on in the hall

A word about my Master might fall

A woman eyed me with scrutiny

“Aren’t you one of his disciples?”

“Disciple? Far from it, O gentle lady,

You say, are you shorn of all scruples?

I am a lone visitor in the Holy temple

I saw from chill afar the fire’s glare

And was drawn to the soothing flare."       

              

 A man in the circle opined searchingly

 "Like a real Galilean surely you sound

 Some relation you must have with him.          

 From Galilee comes the man there bound."

 The wretch of a woman reappeared there

 "That’s what I was hinting, did you mark?”

 That bitch sharply at me let out a bark

 Oh, these women can certain give men

A hell of a time in families and outside

I protested,” I don’t even know that man.”

While trying to hide a little shiver inside

“A northern traveler I am for Passover

Can’t a poor pedestrian warm his skin

When he got no room in the bursting inn?”     

"Weren’t  you there in the garden when

Someone slashed off my cousin’s ear?"

This, by far, was a more pointed proof

I’ve been recognized, troubled with fear

Protested I vehemently with my might,

“Of the man, I’m as ignorant as a rock.”

Then, the cock heralding the dawn, crowed

At the call my face fell, my spirit shattered

He named me “Rock” and now it has shaken

Nay, the stone has crumbled and scattered

I walked into darkness in sadness drowned

As he had said, him thrice I have disowned!

Xavier Bage

Sat, March 26, 2016