"Christ and the Good Thief" by TitianTwo Poems for Good Friday, by Susan Jarvis Bryant The Society April 18, 2025 Beauty, Culture, Poetry 25 Comments . Crucified She pondered horrors of the modern age. He thumbed through piles of dusty history tomes. She craved the timeless wisdom of a sage. He chewed on clues and mused like Sherlock Holmes. He scrutinized the motives in Ukraine. She grappled with the rabble on the jab. She mapped the track of every gravy train. He sniffed out bombshells in a bio lab. He floated with the ghosts of eons past. She stumbled through the dark to find the light. They battled through the bombast and the blast Of bluster from the wrong held up as right. She scorned the claim that sex could ever shift— Its code is writ in strands of DNA. He damned the grants that steered the dons adrift— The cons of fickle tongue know facts don’t pay. They sought. They found. They outed lying swine— Apocalyptic howls were puffs of air. He spurned the wild and witless party line. She warned the devil’s lair was lined with care. She wouldn’t kiss the tarnished papal ring. He leaked the trick beneath the lick of gloss. They liberated truth. They let it sing. Rats spat on it and nailed it to a cross. When truth is crucified and left for dead Its might will rise, shine twice as bright… and spread. . . Dismas He knew, past present pain, a kingdom shone— The hallowed lips of Truth had told him so. The gift of paradise sprung from a tongue That taught him all a harrowed heart need know. . . Susan Jarvis Bryant is a poet originally from the U.K., now living on the Gulf Coast of Texas. NOTE TO READERS: If you enjoyed this poem or other content, please consider making a donation to the Society of Classical Poets. The Society of Classical Poets does not endorse any views expressed in individual poems or commentary. ***Read Our Comments Policy Here*** 25 Responses Peter Venable April 18, 2025 Good for the diversity of themes and worldviews. The final couplet says it all. Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant April 18, 2025 Thank you very much, Peter. I very much hope this poem is “good for the diversity of themes and worldviews” and that the universal truth serves to unite us in divided times. Reply Mark Stellinga April 18, 2025 This wonderful piece fortifies my optimism, Susan. The final couplet lifts my heart as well. Thanks for another powerfully motivating piece. Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant April 18, 2025 Mark, thank you very much for your encouraging comment. I am thrilled you found the poem optimistic and motivating. I believe scientific truth, philosophical truth, moral truth, and spiritual truth all find their coherence in The Truth. Jesus doesn’t cancel universal truth – He completes and fulfills it. A very happy Easter to you! Reply Jeremiah Johnson April 18, 2025 “Dismas” – Beautifully boiled down to the essence of the encounter. Love that line “taught him all a harrowed heart need know.” All of our hearts are harrowed and in need of Christ’s message to Dismas on the cross (whether we’ve reflected on them many times, or whether it’s the first time). I’m going to take this one and ponder it throughout the day! Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant April 18, 2025 Jeremiah, you have made my morning! This is my favorite of the two poems – a gift that came to me in a flash and says everything within the lines and between them. I am over the moon you picked up on this. Thank you most kindly! Reply Martin Rizley April 18, 2025 Susan, As the central point of a diamond, though tiny, shines brightly with concentrated light, your little quatrain “Dismas”, though brief, shines brightly with the light of grace and truth that flowed from Jesus´ lips to the dying thief, bringing solace to his and to countless other “harrowed hearts” since then. Thank you for sharing this. Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant April 18, 2025 Thank you very much for your beautiful words on my favorite of the two poems, Martin. Sometimes less really is more, and this brief moment of glory sings loudly, clearly and universally to ALL harrowed hearts. Please know, I wrote my first poem as a nod to the universal truth in a world that thrives on lies. The universal truth is God’s truth and it’s being crushed and canceled in ways I’ve never experienced. I simply had to write it. Reply Martin Rizley April 18, 2025 I have been encouraged of late by recent signs that certain truths which have been mercilessly crucified by the “woke” left are indeed rising again, and the tide is turning on the strident progressive agenda that has been foisted on the West by out of control courts and corrupt politicians. Case in point: the recent ruling by the UK’s highest Supreme Court boldly affirms that biological men are not women. Thus, they have no inherent right to compete in women’s sports based on a subjective sense of “felt” gender identity. That is a major turning point with massive implications. It goes to show that a society can only “kick against the goads” so long before its foot starts bleeding and reality kicks back– with a vengeance. Truth crucified must and will rise, as your first poem eloquently affirms. Susan Jarvis Bryant April 19, 2025 Martin, I’m over the moon to hear this. Let’s hope sanity has returned to the UK for good… and that it spread across the world like wildfire. Joseph S. Salemi April 18, 2025 These are expertly crafted poems, Susan — the first in an expansive mode, the second in a clipped, almost cryptic mode. About Dismas: he was a thief or robber, and maybe even a terrorist. The likelihood that he was conventionally “religious” is very slim, and the notion that he was sacramentally baptized in the faith is absurd, although some late pious legends claim it. And yet the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity personally guaranteed him that he would be in Paradise. Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant April 18, 2025 Joe, thank you for your appreciation and for your wise eye. Your spot on observations are exactly why I burned to write about Dismas. I didn’t flesh him out in words because I wanted the focus to be where it should be – always, but especially at this time of year. Reply Mike Bryant April 18, 2025 I love the “Dismas” poem and want to say more about it, but “Crucified” really got my attention. It reminds me of the way many psalms express suffering, and injustices before turning to hope and vindication. The Truth can never be kept down. Now, “Dismas” came as a result of a conversation that we had a couple of days before you wrote it. I mentioned that the story might make a great poem… you agreed. I was imagining some ode or maybe a sonnet… and then we both got on with other things. I was surprised that maybe a week ago, you woke up and said, “I just wrote that poem. I just woke up and I had the whole poem in mind.” You wrote it down in, what, ten or fifteen minutes. It’s such a short poem, but it says everything. It’s just wonderful. You ROCK! Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant April 19, 2025 Thank you, biggest fan! You never fail to inspire me. Reply Brian Yapko April 19, 2025 “Crucified” is no ordinary Good Friday poem, Susan. You have not gone the theological route but the humanity route in your text and themes. You actually connect the dots between that willful destruction of Good and Truth embodied in the Word almost 2000 years ago, with the horrifying observation that this same human phenomenon which led to that Crucifixion – this bullying which recoils from Truth and which clutches onto spiritual pride are alive and well today and maintaining their grip on humanity with claw marks. Manipulation or mocking of Truth coupled with Pride is ubiquitous and spreading — often conveyed by those who mean well (or think they do) but do not recognize their own roles in this poisonous process. “The devils lair is lined with care.” This is well-worth pondering as we solemnly consider the death of Jesus on the Cross, what it is He actually allowed Himself to be sacrificed for, and what His triumph over Death actually means. Pilate’s words “what is truth?” offer us a clue and your strong reactive concern with pushing back against falsehood is clearly inspired. I do not believe that Christ came as the Great Reconciler. He came demanding that we make a Choice – a Choice that may cause division and hurt and sacrifice but one which has at its heart the welfare of our souls. And if we do not acknowledge Truth as our foundation how can we possibly move forward either collectively as a people or individually as spiritual beings? In this poem and your overall body of work I see you taking to heart the words of the traditional St. Francis Prayer: “Where there is error, let me bring truth…” and “where there is darkness let me bring your light.” GOD’s light. Not the kind of light that comes from burning books or lighting ritual candles but, rather, from kindling a flame for righteousness in the human heart. Your work is not palliative. It challenges us to examine and choose. I cannot imagine a nobler purpose in one’s work. As for your second poem… “Dismas” is ever so brief yet ever so poignant. A biblical character can sometimes leave a deep impression even when presented in only one or two sentences. You have seized upon this to create a masterful slice of hope and redemption in the face of spiritual anguish and death. Susan, you are able to convey an anguish in indirect imagery and words that most poets cannot fathom. You do not use poetry as a substitute for human emotion but as its full flowering and this gift is something which, I suspect, cannot be taught. Your work presents a candor and naked expression which is astonishingly enhanced rather than obfuscated by your use of poetic devices. That may be your greatest unique talent as a poetess. The devices most of us clumsily apply as window-dressing (slavishly plugging in words that the form seems to demand) is actually THE natural language with which you love, hate, scream, whisper, haunt, teach, bear witness, weep.) Let me simply say that your work is not only accessible and compelling, but we are always, always aware of the presence of your living, beating heart and your wounded yet courageous soul. While I appreciate knowing what it is you think about things, I have not come here to be educated by you. Otherwise, I’d go to Wikipedia. it is far more important for me as the reader of poetry to know what you feel. You bear witness so that we can actually experience what is in your heart. To simply convey information? You could have written an opinion piece or an essay or a letter. Susan, your gift is one-of-a-kind. A happy and blessed Easter to you and to Mike. Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant April 19, 2025 Brian, your words have touched me deeply, and I am grateful for your close reading and humbled by your thoughtful and heartfelt response. As ever, you get to the core of my words and the impetus behind them. I believe the universal truth mirrors Christ – Jesus would never cancel universal truth, and in this age of suppression and self-censorship (where even local churches are promoting man’s subjective truth and not God’s absolute truth) the truth is more important than ever. This struggle to reveal the truth, suppressed by those who lie for purposes of power, control, and personal gain, is tough and risky. You are right when you say that bullying which recoils from Truth and clutches onto spiritual pride is alive and well today. The truth and the truth tellers still suffer for endeavoring to bring integrity and justice to a world gravely lacking in both. My work really is a call to examine and choose between right and wrong. We are all blessed with a conscience – listening to it matters. You are right when you say it’s God’s light we should be looking to – “Not the kind of light that comes from burning books or lighting ritual candles but, rather, from kindling a flame for righteousness in the human heart”. I am sick of pharisaic virtue signaling from those who cloak their spiritual egos in pledges of empty phrases embellished with scripture. You’ve captured the essence of Dismas beautifully and your understanding of how I use poetic devices means a lot to me. When you say, “You bear witness so that we can actually experience what is in your heart” – you offer me the highest praise I could ask for as a poet. Thank you for this gift of a response, Brian. A very happy and blessed Easter to you as well! Reply Margaret Coats April 19, 2025 Susan, I much appreciate your Good Friday reminder that all truth is at stake. Indeed, that it has been since Eden and will be as long as we live in a world needing redemption. Please be assured I did not neglect your work for the holy day by intentionally failing to comment on it, though I had commented on the Good Friday poems by Martin Rizley and James Tweedie. Theirs were out early in my time zone, and yours came out the day itself, which I observed offline. “Crucified” with a “she” and “he” makes me think of you and Mike. Blessed Easter upcoming to you both! Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant April 19, 2025 Margaret, thank you for this rare comment. There’s no need to apologize – I really wasn’t expecting a response. Happy Easter! Reply C.B. Anderson April 19, 2025 Holy smoke, Susan, I have no doubt that sometimes you even surprise yourself. Mike is lucky that he has a strong constitution and a highly functional head. “Dismas” is a short poem for the ages. Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant April 20, 2025 C.B., your comment has given me a smile warm enough to raise my IQ to just above room temperature. Thank you very much indeed and a happy Easter to you! Reply Adam Sedia April 20, 2025 “Dismas” is beautiful in its terseness. It’s often overlooked that he is the one person Christ Himself assured is in Paradise. There are many legends about his backstory, but I think your poem is true to his brief yet crucial (pun intended) appearance in Scripture. Happy Easter! Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant April 20, 2025 Adam, I love the pun and your appreciation of this little blessing of a poem which came to me in a flash of inspiration. I’ve been pondering the story of Dismas for a while and suddenly its significance sang to my heart. A very happy Easter to you too! Reply Roy Eugene Peterson April 21, 2025 What a powerful poem with great messages for all of us! Sorry I am just now catching up to this one on Monday, but I spent five days in a hospital bed. Oh, how wonderful the fantastic clarity you bring with the final cherry on top being the marvelous words of the second poem that is really an Amen and benediction that haunts the heart! Such creative thoughts and perspective are among the hallmarks of your poems and as always, I am entranced. Thank you for this treasure. Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant April 21, 2025 Roy, it’s lovely to have you back and thank you very much for your appreciative comment. I am sorry to hear of your stay in hospital. I hope it wasn’t anything terribly serious and that you are restored to full health as soon as possible… unwritten poetic marvels are calling your name. Reply Roy Eugene Peterson April 22, 2025 Bless you, Susan, for the kind wishes. Hope abounds. Leave a Reply Cancel ReplyYour email address will not be published.CommentName* Email* Website Δ This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Peter Venable April 18, 2025 Good for the diversity of themes and worldviews. The final couplet says it all. Reply
Susan Jarvis Bryant April 18, 2025 Thank you very much, Peter. I very much hope this poem is “good for the diversity of themes and worldviews” and that the universal truth serves to unite us in divided times. Reply
Mark Stellinga April 18, 2025 This wonderful piece fortifies my optimism, Susan. The final couplet lifts my heart as well. Thanks for another powerfully motivating piece. Reply
Susan Jarvis Bryant April 18, 2025 Mark, thank you very much for your encouraging comment. I am thrilled you found the poem optimistic and motivating. I believe scientific truth, philosophical truth, moral truth, and spiritual truth all find their coherence in The Truth. Jesus doesn’t cancel universal truth – He completes and fulfills it. A very happy Easter to you! Reply
Jeremiah Johnson April 18, 2025 “Dismas” – Beautifully boiled down to the essence of the encounter. Love that line “taught him all a harrowed heart need know.” All of our hearts are harrowed and in need of Christ’s message to Dismas on the cross (whether we’ve reflected on them many times, or whether it’s the first time). I’m going to take this one and ponder it throughout the day! Reply
Susan Jarvis Bryant April 18, 2025 Jeremiah, you have made my morning! This is my favorite of the two poems – a gift that came to me in a flash and says everything within the lines and between them. I am over the moon you picked up on this. Thank you most kindly! Reply
Martin Rizley April 18, 2025 Susan, As the central point of a diamond, though tiny, shines brightly with concentrated light, your little quatrain “Dismas”, though brief, shines brightly with the light of grace and truth that flowed from Jesus´ lips to the dying thief, bringing solace to his and to countless other “harrowed hearts” since then. Thank you for sharing this. Reply
Susan Jarvis Bryant April 18, 2025 Thank you very much for your beautiful words on my favorite of the two poems, Martin. Sometimes less really is more, and this brief moment of glory sings loudly, clearly and universally to ALL harrowed hearts. Please know, I wrote my first poem as a nod to the universal truth in a world that thrives on lies. The universal truth is God’s truth and it’s being crushed and canceled in ways I’ve never experienced. I simply had to write it. Reply
Martin Rizley April 18, 2025 I have been encouraged of late by recent signs that certain truths which have been mercilessly crucified by the “woke” left are indeed rising again, and the tide is turning on the strident progressive agenda that has been foisted on the West by out of control courts and corrupt politicians. Case in point: the recent ruling by the UK’s highest Supreme Court boldly affirms that biological men are not women. Thus, they have no inherent right to compete in women’s sports based on a subjective sense of “felt” gender identity. That is a major turning point with massive implications. It goes to show that a society can only “kick against the goads” so long before its foot starts bleeding and reality kicks back– with a vengeance. Truth crucified must and will rise, as your first poem eloquently affirms.
Susan Jarvis Bryant April 19, 2025 Martin, I’m over the moon to hear this. Let’s hope sanity has returned to the UK for good… and that it spread across the world like wildfire.
Joseph S. Salemi April 18, 2025 These are expertly crafted poems, Susan — the first in an expansive mode, the second in a clipped, almost cryptic mode. About Dismas: he was a thief or robber, and maybe even a terrorist. The likelihood that he was conventionally “religious” is very slim, and the notion that he was sacramentally baptized in the faith is absurd, although some late pious legends claim it. And yet the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity personally guaranteed him that he would be in Paradise. Reply
Susan Jarvis Bryant April 18, 2025 Joe, thank you for your appreciation and for your wise eye. Your spot on observations are exactly why I burned to write about Dismas. I didn’t flesh him out in words because I wanted the focus to be where it should be – always, but especially at this time of year. Reply
Mike Bryant April 18, 2025 I love the “Dismas” poem and want to say more about it, but “Crucified” really got my attention. It reminds me of the way many psalms express suffering, and injustices before turning to hope and vindication. The Truth can never be kept down. Now, “Dismas” came as a result of a conversation that we had a couple of days before you wrote it. I mentioned that the story might make a great poem… you agreed. I was imagining some ode or maybe a sonnet… and then we both got on with other things. I was surprised that maybe a week ago, you woke up and said, “I just wrote that poem. I just woke up and I had the whole poem in mind.” You wrote it down in, what, ten or fifteen minutes. It’s such a short poem, but it says everything. It’s just wonderful. You ROCK! Reply
Brian Yapko April 19, 2025 “Crucified” is no ordinary Good Friday poem, Susan. You have not gone the theological route but the humanity route in your text and themes. You actually connect the dots between that willful destruction of Good and Truth embodied in the Word almost 2000 years ago, with the horrifying observation that this same human phenomenon which led to that Crucifixion – this bullying which recoils from Truth and which clutches onto spiritual pride are alive and well today and maintaining their grip on humanity with claw marks. Manipulation or mocking of Truth coupled with Pride is ubiquitous and spreading — often conveyed by those who mean well (or think they do) but do not recognize their own roles in this poisonous process. “The devils lair is lined with care.” This is well-worth pondering as we solemnly consider the death of Jesus on the Cross, what it is He actually allowed Himself to be sacrificed for, and what His triumph over Death actually means. Pilate’s words “what is truth?” offer us a clue and your strong reactive concern with pushing back against falsehood is clearly inspired. I do not believe that Christ came as the Great Reconciler. He came demanding that we make a Choice – a Choice that may cause division and hurt and sacrifice but one which has at its heart the welfare of our souls. And if we do not acknowledge Truth as our foundation how can we possibly move forward either collectively as a people or individually as spiritual beings? In this poem and your overall body of work I see you taking to heart the words of the traditional St. Francis Prayer: “Where there is error, let me bring truth…” and “where there is darkness let me bring your light.” GOD’s light. Not the kind of light that comes from burning books or lighting ritual candles but, rather, from kindling a flame for righteousness in the human heart. Your work is not palliative. It challenges us to examine and choose. I cannot imagine a nobler purpose in one’s work. As for your second poem… “Dismas” is ever so brief yet ever so poignant. A biblical character can sometimes leave a deep impression even when presented in only one or two sentences. You have seized upon this to create a masterful slice of hope and redemption in the face of spiritual anguish and death. Susan, you are able to convey an anguish in indirect imagery and words that most poets cannot fathom. You do not use poetry as a substitute for human emotion but as its full flowering and this gift is something which, I suspect, cannot be taught. Your work presents a candor and naked expression which is astonishingly enhanced rather than obfuscated by your use of poetic devices. That may be your greatest unique talent as a poetess. The devices most of us clumsily apply as window-dressing (slavishly plugging in words that the form seems to demand) is actually THE natural language with which you love, hate, scream, whisper, haunt, teach, bear witness, weep.) Let me simply say that your work is not only accessible and compelling, but we are always, always aware of the presence of your living, beating heart and your wounded yet courageous soul. While I appreciate knowing what it is you think about things, I have not come here to be educated by you. Otherwise, I’d go to Wikipedia. it is far more important for me as the reader of poetry to know what you feel. You bear witness so that we can actually experience what is in your heart. To simply convey information? You could have written an opinion piece or an essay or a letter. Susan, your gift is one-of-a-kind. A happy and blessed Easter to you and to Mike. Reply
Susan Jarvis Bryant April 19, 2025 Brian, your words have touched me deeply, and I am grateful for your close reading and humbled by your thoughtful and heartfelt response. As ever, you get to the core of my words and the impetus behind them. I believe the universal truth mirrors Christ – Jesus would never cancel universal truth, and in this age of suppression and self-censorship (where even local churches are promoting man’s subjective truth and not God’s absolute truth) the truth is more important than ever. This struggle to reveal the truth, suppressed by those who lie for purposes of power, control, and personal gain, is tough and risky. You are right when you say that bullying which recoils from Truth and clutches onto spiritual pride is alive and well today. The truth and the truth tellers still suffer for endeavoring to bring integrity and justice to a world gravely lacking in both. My work really is a call to examine and choose between right and wrong. We are all blessed with a conscience – listening to it matters. You are right when you say it’s God’s light we should be looking to – “Not the kind of light that comes from burning books or lighting ritual candles but, rather, from kindling a flame for righteousness in the human heart”. I am sick of pharisaic virtue signaling from those who cloak their spiritual egos in pledges of empty phrases embellished with scripture. You’ve captured the essence of Dismas beautifully and your understanding of how I use poetic devices means a lot to me. When you say, “You bear witness so that we can actually experience what is in your heart” – you offer me the highest praise I could ask for as a poet. Thank you for this gift of a response, Brian. A very happy and blessed Easter to you as well! Reply
Margaret Coats April 19, 2025 Susan, I much appreciate your Good Friday reminder that all truth is at stake. Indeed, that it has been since Eden and will be as long as we live in a world needing redemption. Please be assured I did not neglect your work for the holy day by intentionally failing to comment on it, though I had commented on the Good Friday poems by Martin Rizley and James Tweedie. Theirs were out early in my time zone, and yours came out the day itself, which I observed offline. “Crucified” with a “she” and “he” makes me think of you and Mike. Blessed Easter upcoming to you both! Reply
Susan Jarvis Bryant April 19, 2025 Margaret, thank you for this rare comment. There’s no need to apologize – I really wasn’t expecting a response. Happy Easter! Reply
C.B. Anderson April 19, 2025 Holy smoke, Susan, I have no doubt that sometimes you even surprise yourself. Mike is lucky that he has a strong constitution and a highly functional head. “Dismas” is a short poem for the ages. Reply
Susan Jarvis Bryant April 20, 2025 C.B., your comment has given me a smile warm enough to raise my IQ to just above room temperature. Thank you very much indeed and a happy Easter to you! Reply
Adam Sedia April 20, 2025 “Dismas” is beautiful in its terseness. It’s often overlooked that he is the one person Christ Himself assured is in Paradise. There are many legends about his backstory, but I think your poem is true to his brief yet crucial (pun intended) appearance in Scripture. Happy Easter! Reply
Susan Jarvis Bryant April 20, 2025 Adam, I love the pun and your appreciation of this little blessing of a poem which came to me in a flash of inspiration. I’ve been pondering the story of Dismas for a while and suddenly its significance sang to my heart. A very happy Easter to you too! Reply
Roy Eugene Peterson April 21, 2025 What a powerful poem with great messages for all of us! Sorry I am just now catching up to this one on Monday, but I spent five days in a hospital bed. Oh, how wonderful the fantastic clarity you bring with the final cherry on top being the marvelous words of the second poem that is really an Amen and benediction that haunts the heart! Such creative thoughts and perspective are among the hallmarks of your poems and as always, I am entranced. Thank you for this treasure. Reply
Susan Jarvis Bryant April 21, 2025 Roy, it’s lovely to have you back and thank you very much for your appreciative comment. I am sorry to hear of your stay in hospital. I hope it wasn’t anything terribly serious and that you are restored to full health as soon as possible… unwritten poetic marvels are calling your name. Reply
