Mercy

The first blow ripped me open  
strips of leather    
with bone and glass and lead balls tied to their ends      
like fingers of Satan clawing and shredding.      
The second blow came quick      
goat bone ripping my flesh like raw meat.      
The third, fourth, and fifth came so fast      
powerful numbing blows so vicious and violent      
gashing and tearing skin and muscles, gouging my body      
the swirling wind filling the air with the taste of iron      
I want to scream, wishing it never was ,knowing it had to be.      
The hurt so real, intense pain floods my whole body      
whipped and scourged, scourged and whipped      
blow after blow after blow, back, arms, shoulders, legs      
forty times or more      
ripping, bleeding, pulling, slashing...blood, pain.      
Stripped of my garments, naked and dirty      
blood oozing and crusting, so many wounds      
the soldiers, my brothers whom I love, laugh at me,      
they spit in my face and mock me ,bowing before me      
calling me "King of the Jews"      
on my head a crown of thorns is placed      
pushed deep into my skull...such agony, such pain      
my face is marred and disfigured, covered with blood and spittle      
tears of blood mix with water, washing away the sins of time.      
With pure love for all mankind my pain brings me joy      
be it your will Father I give myself to you.      
Covered in a fresh robe and given my cross to bear      
we start our journey to redemption together      
crowds fill both sides of my pathway of dirt and stone      
so many souls, jeering and cheering, loving and hating      
pity, sadness, joy and anger, so many hardened hearts.      
Through the streets I stumble falling 1,2,3 times      
my arms ache, my shoulder breaks, my feet burn, my legs weak.      
To the top of the mount we go      
here they rip my now bloodied crusted robe off me.      
shaken and battered I lay naked and humiliated      
my body covered with wounds, blood, dirt and spit,      
a crown of thorns on my head      
laughing soldiers roll me onto the cross      
spikes pounded through my hands and feet      
by a hammer of stone, raised high smashing down upon me.      
Blows so fierce piercing my flesh and bones,      
veins popping, blood squirting ,a pain so mighty.      
I Am...the cross now, we are one with one      
the skies darken as they upright us into the earth.      
Blood runs from my forehead into my eyes      
and down my cheeks into my mouth      
bringing me the sweet taste of life      
I dream of redemption...my blood giveth life.      
"It is finished"      
"Father into your hands I commend my spirit".