day twenty-four moment

"above his head
they put up the charge against him
which read
THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS"
Matt 27:37

for a moment
it is quiet
the eyes of the soldiers close as they rest
the eyes of John and the women are on the face of Jesus

his feet press together
in his struggle to raise up

he gasps for air like a drowning swimmer

and then dropping back down
the weight of his body
drags on his outstretched arms
and his face contorts with pain

the priests gather to argue about the words inscribed above Jesus' head

THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS

Jesus is dying
a slow death

the hands that once fashioned the world
now pierced
and nailed to wood

and I can only kneel
bow down
and wash his feet with my tears

what more can I do