Bearing the Cross

And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul? Mark 8:34-37

Bearing the cross in winter
the empty traps piled high
the lonesome masts crosses of white
bleached from the cold
rocking on the waterside.

Bearing the loss of sunlight friends
fair-weather gatherers who see only
summer's beauty and not her elegance
winter coating of frost and her solid
hull and centerboard a light
to the whole community.

Bearing the cross St. Peter means
watching for stranded fishermen
drunken and idling
poor and unemployed waiting endlessly
for work and a rising tide.

Denying ourselves may we see beauty
leaving our vanity may we know hope
carrying the broken may we know healing
and flying blind may we regain sight.