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The Shroud of Death

The shroud of death’s night-shadow fled
Before the dawning light of day;
Unveiling tombs wherein the dead
In grave and solemn stillness lay.

And earth-life voices stirred the air
With gentle breeze and creak of limb.
And morning reached a garden where
The birds sang an arising hymn.

Within the garden stands a tomb
Whose once-shuttered eye blinks open wide;
Revealing clothes, an empty room
Where once had lain the Crucified.

“He is not here!” the angels say.
“The Lord has risen from the dead!
“Behold him!  Seek him on the Way!
“He goes before you as he said.”

He stands among us breathing peace.
Behold his hands, his feet, his side.
My Lord!  My God!  Shall worship cease?
He lives for us who for us died!

And with the Son we too shall rise
With heaven-born healing on the wing;
To sing of God’s great sacrifice;
The song which saints and angels sing:

Alleluia!
Sing Alleluia!

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James A. Tweedie is a retired pastor living in Long Beach, Washington. He has written and published six novels, one collection of short stories, and three collections of poetry including Mostly Sonnets, all with Dunecrest Press. His poems have been published nationally and internationally in The Lyric, Poetry Salzburg (Austria) Review, California Quarterly, Asses of Parnassus, Lighten Up Online, Better than Starbucks, Dwell Time, Light, Deronda Review, The Road Not Taken, Fevers of the Mind, Sparks of Calliope, Dancing Poetry, WestWard Quarterly, Society of Classical Poets, and The Chained Muse. He was honored with being chosen as the winner of the 2021 SCP International Poetry Competition.

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12 Responses

  1. Roy Eugene Peterson

    This is an extremely beautiful portrayal of the resurrection that takes us there in spirit and praise of the dawning of our new day.

    Reply
  6. Brian A Yapko

    This is quite wonderful, James! I’m especially moved by the music which, to my ears, sound Renaissance. The piece reads and sounds so classical it seems as if it has always existed.

    Reply
    • James A. Tweedie

      Brian,

      The music is written in a standard 20th/21st century 4-part SATB choral style with piano accompaniment. I did not have a choir at my disposal, so I had to sing all four parts, including soprano and alto with my own baritone voice. The necessitated lowering the key by several keys. It would sound much better with the women’s and men’s voices singing their respective separate sections and the combined sections together. It has, in fact, never been performed in worship or in any other public venue. This is, so to speak, a world premiere.

      Reply
      • Damian Robin

        Congratulations on the Premier !

        Maybe you could gather appropriate voices over Zoom for next Easter.

        It does have a timeless quality as Brian says.

        Bravo !!

  7. Yael

    This is a lovely and beautifully uplifting Easter poem, very nice! Happy Easter to you too.

    Reply
  8. Rafa Moras

    Beautiful poem, Pastor James. And the music is amazing! Your arrangement and four voices are inspiring and uplifting.

    Happy Easter and thank you for sharing!

    Reply

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